Section 6: Hello My Love, and Goodbye

I won't ask for your forgiveness.

... ...

Farewell, O great witch. I am grateful for the days I spent here.

... ...!

That's not what I want to hear from you!!!

...Be that as it may, I am still going. I have to.

... ...

...Penelope!

...That's better. Ugh, I swear...

...I genuinely don't know whether to be angry or devastated.

I'm very sorry. But you see

Yeah, yeah, that's enough out of you, Medea. It's time for you to leave.

Don't worry, I'll give you one hell of an earful when we get back to Chaldea!

I'm sooorryyy.

I wonder if she actually learned her lesson this time. Somehow, I doubt it...

But it is nice to see that your apprentice cares so much for you.

All right, Odysseus, I've got something I want to say to you.

...And I to you.

Well, there's no need for us to stick around here.

Besides, the whole Labyrinth's gonna come down soon anyway now that Asterios is gone.

Oh, you and the others can go on ahead, Master. I'll catch up to you later.

... ...

... ...

I've always loved the sound of the waves.

Indeed. It's lovely.

You know, it's weird.

I never thought that way back when I was alive. This sea really kept me tied down.

Do you mean this island was your prison?

Never mind that I was the one who chose to be here.

...Now what was the word for this sort of thing again? Ambivalence?

That's just what it is to be human.

I used to hate you, you know.

I see.

You disturbed the peaceful arrangement I'd made for myself. And you also threatened me with your sword.

As I recall, I only did that because you turned my crew into pigs.

Careful there. Don't poke the boar unless you're ready to face the tusks.

...I didn't dislike you.

Ahahaha! That's a hell of a way to put it.

I know you didn't hate me. You even liked me.

...But you didn't love me...

...Perhaps.

When I first met you, I thought:

"Maybe, just maybe, he'll take me away from this island one day."

...I see.

So from your perspective, Aeaea Island was both paradise and prison.

Yup. I was being kind of...half-assed about living my life back then.

I didn't go out of my way to be around people, like Medea did.

But I also couldn't become a goddess and isolate myself from the world, like Hecate.

I was just a hopeless witch living my life out aimlessly.

... ...

There's something I need to tell you.

All right.

...But first, I want to fight you.

... ...

Not what you were expecting?

No... I wouldn't say that.

In fact, I figured this is what we were both summoned for.

You're right.

We're both imposters through and throughpaper balloons that are destined to disappear.

But none of that matters now. What matters now is that I'm here...

...and I'm going to tell you No, show you how I really feel!

I'm taking my emotion limiters off. I'm not gonna hold anything back.

Then show me what you've got!

The goddess in heaven smiles upon me. The mysterious power of the Titans runs through my veins.

Their vast wisdom is the wind beneath my wings. Now behold as I take flight!

My name is Circe! I am the queen witch of Okeanos!

Very well, Circe, queen witch of Okeanos. I accept your challenge.

My name is Odysseus. I am the son and heir of Laertes, and the king of Ithaca.

I am the ever-versatile hero who triumphed over an odyssey of epic proportions!

Now come, and let us have a good, clean fight!

I suppose that's that then.

Master!

？！

No, it's okay. You were just worried about us, right?

There is nothing wrong with that. It's exactly what a Master is supposed to do.

Besides...it doesn't matter which of us wins. Isn't that right, Circe?

...Yeah, that's right.

Thinking about it now, we should've just done this from the start. Er, back when we were still alive, I mean.

If I'd hit you as hard as I could, cursed your name, and had a no-holds-barred fight like this with you back then...

...I could've gotten over you a long time ago, instead of leaving the wound you inflicted on me open forever.

...So.

Now I'm gonna tell you how I really feel, before you disappear.

...All right.

I used to be in love with you.

Even if it was completely unrequited, I loved you all the same!

...But you'll never feel the same way about me, will you?

...No, I won't.

My heart belongs to Penelope. That hasn't changed, even now that I'm a Servant.

Would you at least tell me why you love her?

I... I don't know. It's not because of her beauty, nor her kindness.

I just...love her for who she is.

I'm sorry I can't explain it better.

Don't worry, I got it. Thanks for being straight with me.

You didn't do anything wrong, Odysseus. Not a thing.

I guess I kind of gave Medea the wrong idea...

...but my only regret about my time with you was how we parted ways.

That the very last words we exchanged were angry ones.

So...I know this is a couple thousand years late, but I want to say it anyway.

Odysseus, I hope your life is full of happiness.

All I want... All I've ever wanted... is for you to be happy.

... ...

I'm relieved too. I'm glad to see you looking so happy yourself.

That's 'cause I am.

I've got a great Master, great new friends... I'm living the hell out of this second lease on life.

I'm glad to hear that.

...Hmm. I guess it's time for me to go.

Well, take care. See you at Chaldea someday.

Same to you.

...Oh, and Fujimaru? Look after Circe for me, would you?

As long as you're around, I'm sure she'll be okay.

？！

There he goes...

Oh yeah. Better than okay.

Of course not. I'm super grateful you were here, Master.

？！

I'd already made peace with my feelings a long time ago. I just didn't want to accept that.

But, I'm okay now.

Sure, he broke my heart...but I got over it! It's a little painful, but I can deal with it no problem!

Hey, Master?

I know I'm just one of dozens of Servants to you...

...but I'm really glad you're my Master.

...Anyway, on a different topic, will you lend me your shoulder for a bit?

'Cause I'm just gonna break down sobbing for a bit.

...Thank you. I mean it. Farewell, my love.