Epilogue: Traveler of the Starry Seas, the Girl of the Reed Bed

...The stars are fading from view as each game is back in its respective box.

All the Servants have been temporarily tokenized to fit inside the boxes as well.

Our Monde du Jeu adventure will soon be over. Part of me's going to miss it.

...Um, Senpai? There's still one thing I'm concerned about.

How do we get back home?

？！

D-do you think we can?

We've lost contact with Da Vinci again, so Huh?

Senpai, look! These are Edison and Emiya's tokens!

What are they doing all the way out here?

？！

I do hope you'll tell me all about what happened once we get back to Chaldea.

Oh, right. We're still trying to figure out the getting back part, aren't we?

Don't worry. We've got Voyager here.

Hi, Nursery. You're here too, huh?

Uh-huh. I'll make sure you get home.

Oh, right! Of course Voyager can get us back home safely!

...

Is everybody ready?

I think so! I've got Edison, Emiya, and Nursery's tokens all safely tucked away.

Okay then, here we go.

I see. So we all hold hands with Voyager in the middle. Here, Koyo, I'll hold your talons.

Grr!

You too, Erice. Let me have your hand.

Ah...

Oh my, you poor thing. You're trembling. I guess you're still second-guessing yourself, huh?

Queen Marie...

Well, I can't say I blame you. You're about to be reborn, after all. And I'm sure there will be plenty of other times in the future when you will lose your way.

But don't forget.

If nothing else, the Master your current materialization is about to forge a bond with?

He'll definitely let you live the kind of life you want to lead. One you can be proud of.

A bond...

...Um, to be perfectly honest, Fujimaru...

That part still doesn't feel real even now, standing here looking right at you, but...

...I think I can finally believe it now that I'm seeing the bonds you have with Queen Marie and Mash.

H-how can you be so nice? Isn't being that trusting kind of...

On second thought, never mind. Forget I said anything.

Ah... I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that.

You're so different from the stereotypical mage that, well, yeah, I'll have to properly apologize to you later.

？！

Grrrrrrrrr!

Huh? Koyo?

That sounded serious. What did she say?

She...wished me luck on my new journey...and said that death is also the first step on a path of new life.

Thank you, Koyo.

You're right. That's exactly what this was: a rite of passage for death and rebirth.

Death is the start of a new life, huh. That feels especially poignant for Servants like us.

You might well end up seeing the end of the world someday. But afterwards, something new might come from that.

...Something new after the world ends?

？！

...I once promised Voyager I would bring something to an end.

Looks like it's back to square one on that.

I won't forget, Erice.

It's okay if you do, Voyager. Better to travel lightly, after all.

Senpai, look! The starlight is getting even dimmer!

？！

Yeah. There's no point in staying here.

Okay, get ready for liftoff!

We're going to the place Erice chose to be...

...We're back! It's so good to be home again!

Chaldea... So this is the place I chose...

Um... (Tug, tug)

？！

No, not that...

What the...!? The game piece just turned into a Holy Grail!

This is what brought Erice and me together. Now that the game is over, it went back to its original form.

I want you to have it.

？！

It's okay. After all, Erice

You mean, I already had my wish granted?

...I always did admire Servants more than anything, and I guess, deep down, I always wanted the honor of being one.

But I also felt really ashamed for wanting such an honor when I knew I didn't deserve it.

I think that explains why I subconsciously chose a game like that for my trial.

Maybe that other Queen Marie even showed up as a bad guy because it's what I secretly wanted.

Because I thought she'd be the right person to punish me...

That's exactly why you had to stand up to her yourself.

You're right, Your Majesty.

Although, um, I still feel really bad that I ended up putting you in that position...

Don't be, Erice. You did overcome her, and I for one couldn't be happier for you.

Your Majesty...!

And, now that you've had your wish granted, I'm so glad that you're going to stay with us as a Servant!

...To be honest, I'm still a little unsure if I really belong here.

？！

...Yeah, of course. By all means.

You, um, are my Master, after all.

Thank goodness.

See? I've been looking for a bright, shiny star...just for Erice.

And you turned out to be the best star I could have hoped for.

？！

I'll never forget you.

Voyager?

But now, I have to go.

This was like a bit, biiig swing-by, and it's time to get back to my journey.

Voyager... Thank you.

...Voyager, wait! Can't you stay just a little longer!?

It's okay, Erice. You have a new job here, just like I do.

Come on, Koyo.

Rrr...

Not you too, Koyo!?

Uh-huh. We're going together. I'm sure you knew that.

Well...yeah, but still!

Chaldea's a whole other world, and this isn't even the time period we're from. Not to mention Koyo's originally from the much more distant past.

I figured you guys would at least go back to the Throne, regardless of what happened in Akihabara...

But this isn't

I thought you weren't going to cry anymore?

...Who, me? Of course not!

Good.

Rrrrrr!

Voyager... Koyo...

Goodbye. Bon voyage. See you later.

...At least, I hope we can see each other again. Maybe...just maybe...

So that darling boy and beautiful woman are gone now, huh?

Hm? The whole place fell into complete silence, but now it's so lively again all of a sudden.

It looks like all the Servants were released from their tokens!

...Well, um, maybe this is a good time to properly introduce myself?

？！