Epilogue

Oh, you're still here.

Have you been cleaning? The place looks spotless. You didn't have to go to all that trouble.

？！

I see. I already considered this working relationship win-win, since you did your job so well, but if you insist.

At any rate, we should head outside. I won't be able to cut this space off if we are still inside it.

I have set it so once I step through the return portal... Er, Csejte Pyramid Himeji Castle, was it?

At any rate, it will sever the connection between this castle, and my warehouse and relaxation facilities.

Still, if you were to remain here and end up left behind at headquarters once the connection is lost...

...I cannot say I would be displeased.

Oh good, you're here.

So, you've come.

Oh, if it isn't me from this galaxy. Are you here to send me off as well?

Hey, there's no denying that she's the one best suited to say goodbye on our behalf.

Aside from Fujimaru, of course.

...That said, I can't promise there's nobody else around watching from a distance.

Do not misunderstand. I am not here for anything so weak and touchy-feely as a send-off.

I am here as queen of the Amazons because I realized I forgot to tell you something important.

Oh? If this is about the resources you agreed to pay me for the trouble you caused, I've already received them.

？！

A good queen is one who readily admits when she has made an error in judgment.

Any nation governed by royalty who refuse to admit they are at fault will inevitably be brought to ruin.

Indeed. The same can be said for companies and CEOs. Now, what is it you forgot to tell me?

I have given it some thought, and it stands to reason there is a man like Achilles in your worldgalaxy?as well as in mine.

And just as you were driven to end his existence here in my world, I have no intention of letting him continue breathing in yours.

Indeed, he must pay for his trangression no matter where he may be. So I would like to officially entrust you to kill the Achilles from your world.

Is that all? Needless to say, we are firmly in consensus.

And the same goes to you. Whatever it takes, make sure you kill your Achilles as well.

Of course. While I don't expect to do anything differently than I have thus far, I swear on my queenhood that I will.

Then as CEO, I too promise you I will hold up my end of the bargain. I'll be sure to send you a written agreement later attesting to that, so please look it over when it arrives.

It must be hard for you-know-who, always being under proverbial crosshairs no matter which world's version he is or which world he's in...

Good! I hope his life keeps getting harder for him! Serves him right!

Though you know, I gotta say...

I was hoping coming face-to-face with another version of herself would be the kick Penthesilea needed to help herself...

But I guess that was wishful thinking.

Really, when you stop to think about it, I'm not sure anything's actually changed for her except on the inside...

Still, I guess I did accomplish the minimum goal I was shooting for, so at least there's that.

Are you hoping Penthesilea will find some kind of solace?

Hard to say. In the end, the only one who can say what solace means to her is Penthesilea herself.

The fact that it took me this long to figure out something that obvious just goes to show how presumptuous I've been.

So as far as I'm concerned, all I ended up doing here was paying her back for helping us out.

That's true. We do owe her a lot.

I still remember how sad Ieveryone in Troy was when Achilles killed you...

...and how encouraging it was to see her and her golden warriors arrive to help us.

I really thought I knew what kind of firepower the Achaeans were packing.

But then those precious few Amazons showed up to help, with Penthesilea insisting on upholding the oracle's prophecy to atone for her sins... Man, talk about awkward.

Yeah. So I figured the least I could do for an awkward gal like that to repay the debt I owe her...

...was to stick my nose in where it arguably didn't belong and provide a little nonawkwardness where it was needed.

So that's why you convinced Avicebron to approach me back when I was twiddling my thumbs with nothing to do?

I swear, you Trojans wouldn't know how to face a problem head-on if it bit you in the ass!

Aah! It's Achilles! Come on, Big Brother, Lord Apollo! Let's get him!

I wouldn't if I were you. We don't wanna make so much noise that Penthesilea and the CEO hear us.

But hey, since we are all here, mind telling me something?

I might've had Avicebron suggest something to you that I thought could get the ball rolling, so to speak, but you're the one who took him up on it. How come?

If you got tired of being the hero of Achaea and decided you'd rather be a golem from now on, I can understand...

But I'm guessing it's probably not that, is it?

'Course it's not, you dumbass.

What's that? Some kinda insult?

Oh for... It's 'cause I saw the other one of her for the first time.

The CEO, you mean?

Yeah. I'd heard the rumors about her, but when I found out she was real...

...I couldn't help but wonder how things stood between her, and the other me I assume's out there where she's from.

...And yeah, I know she's not gonna treat me any differently.

I don't know what happened to her that makes her go berserk at just hearing my name...

...but whatever it is, I'm sure it's my fault.

I just figured I ought to find out what that was. Find out what happened, and why she ended up that way.

But of course, I couldn't ask her directly. I knew she'd go berserk the moment she saw my face. So

So instead, you thought you'd try to get up close all sneakily, like some kind of spy or something.

I can see that. She might well have ended up dropping a hint or two in front of the carrier golem while she was talking with Master or someone.

Wow, Lord Apollo, it looks like we've got a stalker on our hands!

Can it, wool-for-brains!

These aren't my brains! This is Lord Apollo's divine fleece!

So, you figure it out then? 'Cause I still got no clue.

Must be a hell of a secret of hers. I don't think she even told Master about it.

No, can't say I did.

All I found out is that she hates me just as much if not more than Penthesilea does.

If her ranting wasn't enough, it was also pretty clear from how hard she hit me.

...That said, I do have a pretty good idea of one thing now.

Whatever that other me did must've been at least as humiliating as me complimenting her looks on the battlefield.

Wait... Don't tell me you actually regret that now, do you?

Hell no.

If anything, I'm relieved that I'm still me no matter where I go.

Even if I might not exactly be everyone's cup of tea.

I doubt that other me has any regrets, either.

All I can say for sure is, that other me and her clearly have as strong a connection as Penthesilea and me.

I'm good with that. It might be a connection forged from hate and fury, but it's still a part of us.

Just knowing that's true everywhere we go is a win in my book.

Ha! Finding out those other versions of you are just as hopeless as you are sure isn't what I'd call a win.

I don't know why you think it is. Maybe 'cause you've still got your youth? Either way, I hate it. Mind if I throw a rock at you?

I'm not sticking around much longer. I only wanted to say that I wasn't your puppet.

After all, I'm sure I would've found out the same thing on my own, with or without your help.

Don't fling your sour grapes at us just 'cause you're mad you lost!

Here, Big Brother! I couldn't find any rocks, but I did grab some roof tiles!

Don't bother; he's already long gone. I swear, you'd think he'd have the decency not to show off how fast he can run to this old man whose back and legs are practically giving out.

Your back aside, isn't it really bad for a Servant's legs to be giving out!?

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know.

All right, I had better be on my way. I cannot keep my employees waiting forever, after all.

If you should ever decide to get out of the queen business and into CEOing, just let me know, and I will send you a copy of my autobiography.

I think you would get a lot out of it.

R-right...

As for you, Fujimaru... Your help has been invaluable.

？！

I may have said this before, but I firmly believe that crises can lead to unprecedented opportunities.

If it had not been for this predicament, I might never have broken out of my comfort zone and shifted Amazones.com's paradigm to incorporate outsourcing.

I now know that relying on other companies for help can actually be quite nice. For that, I am grateful.

...In fact, I think I may just keep this system going.

At this point, I think I would even be comfortable working with freelancers in addition to companies.

Perhaps I could call it "Amazones Flextime"...

...and the tagline could be "Now you too can be an Amazon whenever you like!" What do you think?

？！

Hehe. Absolutely not.

Wh-why not?

I may have only been helping out from the back end, but from what I saw, I thought Senpai was excellent!

Exactly. It would be a waste to employ such talent and drive only part-time.

Fujimaru, I will only ask you this once.

Would you consider joining Amazones.com as an official full-time employee?

？！

...I see.

That is a shame, but I understand.

In that case, in light of all your exceptional work thus far, I will make you a special honorary employee instead.

No need for the uncertainty.

This is a one-of-a-kind position that will let you return to the field whenever you like without reapplying or interviewing. Be grateful.

？！

All right, I had best be on my way.

...I do not typically go in for sentimentality, but I will say this: I believe this incident will stay with me for the rest of my life.

It has turned out to be a major chapter in the newest edition of my autobiography.

Yeah, you'd think there'd be more chances for all of us to pitch in and have fun like this, but they don't actually come around all that often, do they?

？！

Hehe. As will INo, scratch that.

There is no need to miss me, valued customer-slash-honorary employee!

If you wish to see me again, I will be there. That is who we are, and what we do.

For remember...with but a single click, Amazones.com will deliver anything anywhere in the galaxy!

Farewell! We look forward to your next order!