The God King Ozymandias (2/3)

What, no reunion hug? I guess not? Hmmm, that's too bad. I was looking forward to it.

Well, I'll just put it down to your being too shy to hug in front of people!

At any rate, I can plainly see your happiness. But if you open your mouth that big, you'll dislocate your jaw.

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Ah, good, finally connected. It seems like you've returned from the desert zone.

Your safety is the most important thing. I see Da Vinci there as well. Yup, all is right in the world...

Wait, whaaaaaaaat!? Da Vinciiiiiiiiii!?

You mean she lived through being so spectacularly blown to pieces!?

Oh Romani, thank you for such an unsightly reaction!

When I return, let me test out my new skill, the Astronaut Home Run.

...Just kidding. I figured you wouldn't be dead. It wasn't a big deal to me anyway.

Fujimaru and Mash were all sad, so I read the room and decided to play along, that's all.

In fact, your being gone would be nothing more than a nuisance, that's all.

Eww, this guy is gross. It's not cute when a guy acts tough, especially when he's single and over 30.

I'm not acting tough. I'm just glad our helping hand is back, that's all!

...But more importantly, how did you survive? That staff exploded, didn't it?

I didn't think there was any way I could help you.

Ah, that was an unexpected development for me too.

I thought if I tossed it high into the air, I'd at least be able to avoid instant death, but...

I didn't expect, of all things, the knight leading the enemy assault to jump in front of me and cover me. Can you believe it?

...

Sir Lancelot saved Da Vinci?

Umm... From far away it looked like a beautiful woman, so in the spur of the moment...

...I beg your pardon!?

Just what are you saying!?

Fou...

Hahaha, that's Lancelot for you. Anything for beautiful women.

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That's right... Gotta think about Galahad's feelings, too...

...Wait, Fujimaru, did you find out the True Name of the Heroic Spirit that fused with Mash!?

Yes. Holm... Uh, home run. We hit a home run at the Atlas Institute.

We confirmed the name of the Heroic Spirit lending me their power, as well as the true nature of the Lion King's sacred lance.

I'm sending information about the lance now.

I see, that's good. I'll leave the report to you, then.

(...Senpai. I won't tell the Doctor that we looked into Chaldea. Mr. Holmes asked me not to.)

The truth about the sacred lance, eh? Now that sounds interesting!

I'd like to know the details of things up until now too, seeing as I was stuck here and everything.

To tell the truth, I've only been able to stand up like this for a few days. Before this, I was confined to my bed.

Well, I suppose I did hear about your exploits from him, though.

From him...?

Me, young lady. We've met once before, haven't we?

That's the one. I was much obliged that time, young man.

I haven't lost it! There's reason in my eyes! Dollar signs!

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I had Saruhan assist the refugees fleeing in the opposite direction to us. He's a first-class thief.

Some time after that, he couldn't look after them anymore, so he pushed the refugees here.

From then on, I had him look into the state of the wastelands. He did some hard work for very little money.

You were quite the nuisance, though.

But, well, there's no replacement for Ms. Da Vinci's wisdom. Her skills in the wastelands proved to be a highly valuable resource.

Like finding a source of water and digging a well in a day, I thought she was a goddess of salvation.

That's right, even bedridden, there were things I could do. But that armchair detective work ends today!

I'll start with a quick warm-up, and move on to some light training!

How strong have you all become? How much have I recovered?

Let's find out with a little battle!

A battle!? How did you come to that conclusion!? Senpai, Da Vinci is acting weird!

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Hahaha! As expected of Fujimaru!

Well then, while we battle, I'll have you tell me about this sacred lance! Fill me in on what the Lion King is aiming for!

...And that's the truth about the sacred lance. Do you understand, Da Vinci?

Ah. So to put it simply...

The point of Holy Selection is to select humans... Those who won't stray from the path of righteousness no matter what kind of evil has invaded their hearts.

To gather people of Lawful-Good alignment into the Holy City Camelot, then absorb Camelot into Rhongomyniad...

...thereby creating a sort of space colony that can continue to exist no matter what kind of isolation it is in.

In which case, it would be able to withstand the King of Mages' incineration. ...That's the Lion King's goal, yes?

...That's right. All of us believed that ideal was righteous.

...

Bedivere, you can say it. Lancelot was wrong.

Hm? N-No...I don't want to attack him while he's down...

Right. You're so kind. I like that kind of person. In that case, I'll continue for you.

The Lion King had the wrong idea. It's not good to take people's choices away from them.

But all of the Knights of the Round Table accepted that idea... albeit at the cost of their own identity.

That's because they believed in the past King Arthur. However, the current King Arthur is no longer the same.

Right? Why did King Arthur become the Lion King?

...That I don't know. At the time we were summoned, the king was already in that form.

There's also no indication that His Majesty's heart was invaded by the one you call the King of Mages.

There were knights who disobeyed, saying he had gone mad... But really, there was no reason for him to do so.

...It's not madness. I mean, the current King Arthur doesn't even have any sense of reason to begin with.

No sense of reason... Are you calling His Majesty a puppet!? One that's controlled by Agravain!?

Agravain? ...Oh, King Arthur's aide. Saruhan mentioned something about him...

About how Agravain took over the merchant's guild and lined his own pockets while using his role as royal aide as cover.

Hmm. Well regardless of what Agravain was thinking, I can explain why King Arthur became the Lion King.

She is no longer human, no longer a Heroic Spirit. Her very existence changed from holding onto the sacred lance for too long.

Her existence... has changed?

Yes. She was originally a legend born on this earth, but through the sacred lance, she became one that sits in the heavens.

If she had any sense of normal reason, she would focus on improving life in the ideal city she aimed to build.

But she didn't choose that, she didn't even think of that.

In order to maintain this everlasting world of man she envisions, she turned down all human happiness.

This was a transcendent viewpoint that went beyond being coolheaded. She honestly believed this.

"Mankind is something of value. However, human life has no value."

The result was the Holy City. Truly a god's perspective. That is what I meant by having no sense of reason.

...So her existence changed. That's believable. So the King Arthur who manifested in this Singularity is, rather than a Heroic Spirit...

A Divine Spirit... One of the gods...

Fou...fou...

Not what we would call a god though. The Buddha wouldn't exist without mercy.

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But why! Why did it turn out that way?

King Arthur was trying to bring peace to Britain, to bring happiness to all its people.

Why did the King of Knights turn out like that!?

...

We'll talk about King Arthur's transformation later. The situation is too dangerous.

Not only was that era already in ruins, but building a human world without humanity?

If that's the case, even if we beat Solomon and prevent his machinations, the history of mankind will be a mess.

The Lion King's sacred lance... The Holy City Camelot will be a cancer even after humanity is restored.

Whatever happens, we have to stop the Lion King...

...I will have an audience with the king. I will be the traitor. That'll stop the sacred lance, surely?

That's impossible. Sir Lancelot, you received a Gift from the Lion King, didn't you?

If so, the instant you turn your sword on the king, you will be burned away. ...I didn't want to say it, but, well...

The moment they accepted their Gifts, the Knights of the Round Table lost their ability to turn on the king.

...

...We have no choice but to join up with Hassan and attack the Holy City up front. But...

That mighty skeleton guy said he would come to the battlefield, but that alone wouldn't be enough to beat the Lion King's armies.

The difference in the forces is too great... Plus there's the Light of Judgment too.

...Attacking as we are now would be suicide. And suicide is absolutely out of the question.

I don't mind doing it myself, but to have it done in front of me by someone else would drive me to tears.

We don't have the forces to attack the Holy City... But no one else has the strength left to help us...

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Fujimaru?

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King Ozymandias...! What if you asked the Sun King to help us?!

There's no way! That haughty king would never come to our aid!

Yeah, I'm opposed to that idea too.

Besides, once we defeat the Lion King, we'll have to think of how to defeat Ozymandias too.

...No, we may have overlooked that. It's not impossible.

If the Lion King is left alone, Egypt will disappear too. He would know that.

If we give him our terms, Ozymandias will help us. He would not turn down something to his benefit.

...Hmm. And those terms are?

We won't get anywhere if they demand that we hand over Fujimaru, though.

No need to worry about that. He doesn't look like it, but he's simpleminded.

Fou?

He only sides with whoever can win.

We'll tell him directly that there is value in fighting alongside us.

Okay, we're ready to cross the desert. Shall we leave soon, Fujimaru?

The group consists of Fujimaru, Mash, Sanzang, Touta, Sir Lancelot, and his elite followers.

It's possible that we'll battle King Ozymandias's forces as well. Sir Lancelot and his followers will have to be in high spirits.

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I asked him to contact the mountain people. I had him go to the eastern village a little earlier.

He already knows Hassan of the Cursed Arm, so that should be appropriate, right?

That's good. Bedivere will have a good rest. You've got quite a good eye for judgment, Da Vinci.

Don't praise me as a genius for things which are obvious. You're also quite the Servant.

Bedivere will let Hassan know that we'll be joining forces with the Sun King, but...

Hassan is hostile towards the Sun King, so I worry about whether or not he'll accept it.

Accepting it is the only option. All right. I'm going to go, too, Ms. Da Vinci.

Ah, I leave it up to you, Saruhan. This is exactly why your grassroots networking will help.

Okay, okay. I assume it'll be an awkward talk, though. If I could use the young man as an excuse, it should be 50:50.

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Yes, you. Could you eloquently and efficiently go and borrow Ozymandias's forces?

Sir Lancelot, 40 Raider Knights are prepared for battle.

Very good. The remaining knights will stay here and await information from Bedivere.

If the mountain people accept our invitation, the forces here will move to the hidden valley near the Holy City, and stand by.

Yes, my lord! Good fortunes to you!

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...Yes, although it might be too late.

I made an oath to the king. I chose to swing this sword for him.

However, if he has lost his humanity, it is his subjects' duty to set things right.

Even if it means people will see me as a monster, now is the time to carry out my final act of loyalty.

Hey, let's not get gloomy. First we have to appeal to the Sun King.

Right, right. We have to look as strong as possible and convince him that there's no way we'll lose.

Fujimaru, Mash... We won't be able to communicate in the desert, so be careful.

Okay, Fujimaru! Let's board the new and improved ornithopter! It's been reborn!

A land, sea, and air universal mode of transport for four people, complete with thrusters and canards!

Behold... the Bastinyan!

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Woohooooo☆ It's so comfyyyyyy! Bastinyaaaaaan! Look, it's sooo cute!

Yes, indeed. Sanzang, you are the perfect audience!

But I would like you to be careful.

It can cross lakes and, with the aid of a ramp, can even glide around 200 meters, but...

In exchange, it's pretty fragile! If it hits even a small golem, it'll fall apart!

That is to say, you're going too fast, Fujimaru.

？！

I understand how you feel, but please calm down, Master! Lancelot and the others are getting farther away!

Touta is getting farther away too! And he's shouting something, but I can't hear!

In terms of handling a horse, though, he's on par with Lancelot! That's my disciple for you! Whatever he does, he's first-class!

Watch where you're going, fools!

There's a purple wall ahead!

Watch out in front? Purple wall?

What!? Senpai, emergency brake! My apologies!

Wooohooo☆ We're drifting in the desert☆

Hollyyyyyyyywoooooooood!

That's... those mysterious lifeforms from some time ago... There's so many of them, they're just like a wall!

The ones that lived seemed to have multiplied. What marvelous vitality!

But it was a mistake for them to try to take their revenge. This time we'll annihilate those mysterious lifeforms!

And so, having overcome various trials and tribulations, we finally arrive at the great temple!

As you can see, in preparation for tomorrow's battle, everyone is asleep, though.

Thanks for all your hard work, Fujimaru.

It's the same as usual, but this time I wonder if you've become a little more masculine?

Something. We've been busy with so many things, we haven't had time to say much.

Since it's just the two of us, I thought it'd be a good opportunity to try and catch up.

Is that so? I only roamed between life and death a bit...

Even in a situation like that, maintaining a smile is what it means to be the Mona Lisa, though...

Yes. If it has increased my appeal, I suppose it was worth it.

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Well, incidentally, I did have something else.

Fujimaru, are you hiding something? Not from me, but from Roman.

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You made eye contact with Mash, right? You seemed surprised.

This is the territory of Egypt. The conversation between us won't reach Chaldea.

If it's all right, if there's anything wrong, I'd like for you to be able to tell me.

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I see...The 2004 Holy Grail War... Yes, I didn't know that either.

I was summoned to Chaldea much later. I only met the previous director very briefly.

Near the end of that year, Marisbury died. I didn't know about the relationship between Romani and the former director.

Oh, speaking of which, a Heroic Spirit was summoned into Mash shortly before my summoning.

At that time, Mash's condition got worse, and the former director apparently asked Romani for help.

Romani learned of Heroic Spirit possession experiments at that time, and seemed to regret his foolishness.

He had been in Chaldea for some years, but never realized that that section existed.

Of course I was shocked, too. Then angry. I wished I had never been summoned to Chaldea.

？！

...Well, there's a chance that Heroic Spirit summoning could disappear in the future, and I had a scientific curiosity, so I couldn't turn it down.

But the biggest reason was Romani.

I knew from one look. "Ah, this is the kind of guy who overworks himself."

？！

Romani is only human, not a mage. Just like you, he experiences various emotions when dealing with challenges.

He possesses greater than ordinary gifts, but he's not a genius to surpass other people.

That kind of person was carrying humanity on his back, and was becoming desperate.

Romani himself didn't know why he would have to do such a thing.

He never said it, but I understood that he was at his wits' end... Because I'm a genius.

That's why I chose to stay in Chaldea. The point is I couldn't turn my back on Romani.

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He's neither, and he's both. I mean, that's what human beings are.

...But Romani is holding a trump card. I will tell you that.

Just as you suspect, Romani is hiding something. That's... Well, it's like the Holy Grail.

He's secretly holding onto a means to grant one wish. But he's too scared to even think about it.

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It's simple. If he uses it, he'll disappear. That's why he can't use it.

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Yeah. Something like that.

...Anyway. Dr. Roman's past is a mystery, but he doesn't have any ulterior motives. He will be your ally to the end.

That alone I'd stake my title of "genius" on. So please don't pick on Romani too much.

As you know, his will is like tofu. If he loses confidence, it will have an effect on our chances of survival.

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What, I should be thanking you. It helps you're a thoughtful person.

Okay, you should sleep. Our negotiations with King Ozymandias are tomorrow.

It's surely going to be a long day. Make sure to prepare for battle.