Epilogue: The Queen, From Beyond

I'm sorry to have put so much on your shoulders, Iyo.

That voice... Is that you, Lady Himiko?

It is. I'm so glad to finally see you again.

I owe you an apology.

I am so sorry for saddling you with the care of Yamataikoku... Its people... Every burden a queen must carry.

Not at all, Lady Himiko.

I knew that you chose to give yourself over to the eternal darkness because you feared for Yamataikoku's future.

I see... So that is why you used the last of your power to contact the Demon King.

That's right.

And thankfully, she answered my summons and managed to buy us some time until you could return.

Thank you, Iyo.

I can't thank you enough...

Even after my death, you continued to illuminate Yamataikoku brilliantly.

Thank you, Lady Himiko. But I must ask you: What is to become of Yamataikoku now?

Where will it go with no priestess or prophecies to lead its people?

I don't know. What happens next is a mystery to me as well.

But I do know that that is nothing to be sad about.

When our people are able to move forward on their own power, without depending on priestesses like ourselves...

...that is when Yamataikoku will enter a new age, one that lies entirely in their hands.

Yes, I suppose you're right. I doubt our power will be necessary in the new age to come...

But that's okay. It doesn't mean everything we've done thus far will be for naught.

Back when people were weak, and fearful of the world that surrounded them...

...we priestesses embodied the stars and gave prophecies to protect their fledgling lives.

Because of that, the light within our people will continue to grow stronger, and to illuminate their path even further.

And one day, I am certain their efforts will lead to the world of that Child of the Future.

Yes, I suppose you're right. In time, our present, and his future, will be one and the same.

Indeed. But for now, it's time we parted ways.

Yes, Lady Himiko. I'm so glad I got to see you once more.

As am I, Iyo. Now, I must return...to the world beyond the light...

And by that, you mean you're going to crash at that Futuro boy's place, don't you?

Urk.

O-of course not. D-don't be silly.

I specifically said "the world beyond the light," remember?

No fair! I want to go, too!

Come on, introduce me to Futuro!

In! Tro! Duce! Meee!

Huh!? Give me one good reason why I should!

Besides, you're my successor, remember? Don't you have, like, successor stuff to do?

Didn't you just say a minute ago that Yamataikoku's age of priestesses was over?

I did!? O-okay, maybe I did, but, um...

Oh! But that doesn't include... Uh, what was it called again...? Oh, right! Customer support!

You still need to make sure customers are cared for after they've bought your product, right?

And why is that my job, huh?

Isn't that something you'd be better suited for? Well?

A-anyway, these things are all about seniority, and that's that!

But don't worry! I'll have Futuro summon you too one day, okay? I promise!

You've just gotta give me a liiittle time, that's all!

Whaaa! No way! That is SO unfair!

Why do I have to do all the thankless call center work!?

C'moooon, Himiko, take me with yooou!

...

...

Welp, see you later!

Hey! She just vanished!

Himikooo! Wait for meee!

You'd better have him summon me too, okay!?

Or eeeeeelse!!!

...And now, you're all caught up.

So! Hope you don't mind that I'll be sticking around for a while, Futuro!

？！

Maaan, I can't tell you how good it feels to FINALLY be free of my queen duties.

Ahhh! It really is like a weight's been lifted from my shoulders!

Welcome to Chaldea, Himiko. W-would you like some juice or something?

Oh, hey Mash! That sounds great, thanks.

Wait. This orange drink is juice? I've never seen anything like it before...

Huh. Well, if you say it's good, Mash, I'm willing to try it...

...

Whoa! What IS this stuff!? It's amazing!

U-um, Himiko? You might want to act a little more, um, properly while you're dressed like that...

Aaah! Did I just spill some juice on this outfit!?

All right then, deactivating Super Himiko Mode!

There we go! Now I don't have to worry what gets on my clothes!

Oh, right, here. You forgot this.

A Holy Grail...

I saw it lying around the shrine after the Dark Blight went away, so I thought I'd bring it with me.

You do need those things, right, Futuro?

？！

Hehe, glad to hear it.

By the way, I'm kinda hungry. Is it time to eat yet?

Oh hey! If it isn't Queen Himiko!

So you made your way to Chaldea too, huh?

Demon King lady! Short time no see!

How about you, Nobukatsu? Everything good with you?

Of course it is! Wherever Sister goes, I go!

Great. Another noisy one to make even more ruckus...

Thank you, Master.

I'm glad I got to talk to him again one last time.

Beats me. He took off on his own after we finished up in Yamataikoku.

But hey, I'm sure he'll poke his nose in around here sooner or later.

Mr. Saito's always been kind of a drifter, after all.

Honestly, you could say the same about a lot of the Shinsengumi.

？！

Oh. You're here too now, huh.

Good to see you too, Hijikata! Say, what're those yellow things on your plate?

Chilled pickles, of course. Nothing goes better with rice.

Hmm. So you have them with rice, huh...

You know, they do look pretty good.

Can I have one!? Pleeease!? Just a little one!

Hell no you can't! Don't be ridiculous!

Aww, come on! Just a teensy-weensy one!

Now stop being stingy and share your chilled pickles!

Shut up, or I'll kill you!

Now, now, there's nothing to be gained from resorting to violence. As comrades, we're supposed to help one another, after all.

And as Queen Himiko, arbiter of justice, one of my jobs is to see that help realized.

I said shut up!

All right, if you won't listen to reason, maybe you'll listen to this.

Hraaah! Himiko Puuunch!!!

Wahahaha! What happened to not resorting to violence!? Some arbiter of light you turned out to be!

Oh for... Please stop this, Himiko!

And as for you, Mr. Hijikata, it wouldn't hurt to share your chilled pickles once in a while!

Never! You'll have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands!

Do you clowns EVER shut up!? You're ruining my booze!

Hey! Are you drinking AGAIN, Okada!?

You can't just drink alcohol all the time, you know!

You need to eat rice, too!

Will you stop calling me by my family name already!?

All right, food's ready.

Now keep it down, will you? This is a cafeteria, not a stage show.

Woohoo! I've been waiting forever to try the food from your time, Futuro!

What're we having? Clams?

Um, it looks like today is...curry and rice!

Okay, everyone, single file, please.

There's plenty of curry to go around.

？！

Honestly, when I saw my name on the roster today, I felt like someone was out to get me. But oh well.

Now can you all line up nice and orderly, please? I just want to serve this stuff and get it over with.

Ooh, ooh, me first, me first!

Aah! What IS this stuff!?

A thick yellow stew!? On rice!? Yellow!?!?!?

Then again, it smells reeeally good!

Wahahahaha! I'll have a big helping too! And don't forget the soy-pickled daikon and Worcestershire sauce!

Here, Sister! I saved you a seat right next to me!

Huh? No way. I'm gonna eat over there.

Y-you are!? Okay then, I'll just sit there too!

Gaaah! Will you quit being so clingy!?

Just disappear and leave me in peace!

Heh heh heh. Well, Sister, as it turns out...

It looks like I got a proper Spirit Origin of my very own during this whole mess.

Crap, really!? Man, I guess they'll give Heroic Spirit-class Spirit Origins to just about anyone these days.

Do you know what this means, Sister?

It means you and I can really help one another!

Hehe... Nobukatsu...

Take care of my brother for me, okay?

Hm? Did you say something, Himiko?

Who, me? Nope. Nothing.

Now come on! I can't wait to try rice with this curry stuff!

？！

Ahahahaha! Well I had a blast! And this curry stuff is yummy!

Right, Futuro!?

Hey guys! Mind if I join you?

Of course not, Da Vinci. Here, you can sit next to me.

Thanks, Mash!

Man, sounds like you went through a helluva lot yet again, huh, Fujimaru?

And you must be the famous Queen Himiko.

In the flesh!

Anyway, I'm still impressed you made it back safely.

That Singularity's time and space coordinates were so fuzzy that I never could get a good read on it.

Oh, that? That's 'cause my mirrors can show me sights from beyond eternity.

So I used them to link Futuro here and Yamataikoku out of a range of multiple possibilities.

Huh, you don't say. That's pretty amazing.

...Hm? Hang on.

Does that mean you guys didn't Rayshift back here?

I suppose not.

Then what happened to everyone who went there to rescue you?

？！

Ah.

Hey guys! Mind if I join you?

Of course not, Da Vinci. Here, you can sit next to me.

Thanks, Mash!

Man, sounds like you went through a helluva lot yet again, huh, Fujimaru?

And you must be the famous Queen Himiko.

In the flesh!

Anyway, I'm still impressed you made it back safely.

That Singularity's time and space coordinates were so fuzzy that I never could get a good read on it.

Oh, that? That's 'cause my mirrors can show me sights from beyond eternity.

So I used them to link Futuro here and Yamataikoku out of a range of multiple possibilities.

Huh, you don't say. That's pretty amazing.

...Hm? Hang on.

Does that mean you guys didn't Rayshift back here?

I suppose not.

Then what happened to everyone who went there to rescue you?

？！

Ah.

...

Hmm, what to do now...

Oh well, between my flowing swords of freedom and my own personal inclinations...

I'm sure we'll figure something out.

...

Don't you think, Yamanami?

Hm? Aren't those guys...?

Nagayoshiii, Chacha's hungryyy.

Me too. What do you wanna do? Wanna try eating those haniwa remains or something?

Hahaha. I'm glad we were able to defeat the Ominous Gods, but I didn't think we'd get left behind like this.

Hey, Ryouma, Oryou likes it here. Why don't we just stay forever?

We could build our dream home right on that mountain.

Ahahahaha! Well this is a fine how-do-you-do. Say, does anyone have any sake?

I already drank everything the villages gave us.

Khh! A super ancient food crisis, of all things!

And if that wasn't bad enough, I lost that mysterious new Saber signal, too...

This whole excursion turned out to be worth less than the Altrium it took to get here! Say, I wonder if Altrium is edible...

Hmm. It seems I still had a moon cake in my breast pocket.

Here, have it. It should provide at least some sustenance.

Are you sure?

Thank you, kind old man.

I will remember this kindness to the end of eternity.

Dammit, Little Okita, you can't go around remembering every favor someone does you till the end of eternity!

Huh, didn't know you guys were still here.

Who're you!? And where'd you come from!?

Oh, I remember you! You're that traitor, Saito!

Kill him!

Wh-whoa, whoa, slow down! Didn't Okita tell you what happened? You're working from old info!

Then again, maybe not.

Now that I think of it, you do seem kind of familiar.

Who the hell are you?

Huh. You must be Okita's, uh, alternative, or whatever.

Now I see... If that's how she eventually ends up, it's no wonder she gave me a hard time.

Shut up, nincompoop! We're hungry and pissed off here!

Now, if you got something to eat, we'll listen to you all day!

Nincompoop, huh. Haven't heard that one in a while.

As for food, 'fraid I don't got any. Sorry.

Khh! I'm picking up some distinct Saber vibes here, but I'll overlook 'em this once since I'm so damn hungry!

It helps that he doesn't have the face, either!

Oh! Chacha just remembered the bag Da Vinci gave us!

Maybe there's something in there that can help!

Go on, Nagayoshi, get out the bag!

Bag?

Oh, you mean this bag! Here you go, Lady Chacha!

Chacha bets it's got some super scientifically advanced scrumptious rations that pack three-hundred light-years into each and every grain of rice!

...Huh? What is this?

It looks like...seed rice?

It seems there's a letter in here as well... No, wait. It's a set of instructions.

Read them, Nagayoshi!

Will do!

Whoa, whoever wrote this has some damn good handwriting.

All right, let's see...

Hi guys! This seed rice is special seed rice invented by your friendly neighborhood genius, Da Vinci!

It'll grow in any kind of soil, and it won't succumb to any kind of crop disease. It's basically SUPER seed rice!

Just feed it a little magical energy, and it'll be ready for harvest in an instant! Not only that, it yields so much more rice than a typical crop it's not even funny!

I call it...

Da Vinci Crop No. 1, Chaldean Paddy Rice!!!

Hi guys! This seed rice is special seed rice invented by your friendly neighborhood genius, Da Vinci!

It'll grow in any kind of soil, and it won't succumb to any kind of crop disease. It's basically SUPER seed rice!

Just feed it a little magical energy, and it'll be ready for harvest in an instant! Not only that, it yields so much more rice than a typical crop it's not even funny!

I call it...

Da Vinci Crop No. 1, Chaldean Paddy Rice!!!

...And that's all she wrote. Literally.

S-so what're we waiting for!? Let's plant it already!

Um, h-hang on. I'm not so sure that's a good idea.

Haha, sounds like fun to me. Do it.

Don't worry so much. Whatever happens, happens.

Well said, thoughtless Saber!

Like they say, can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs!

All right, seed rice, let's see what you've got!

Take root and grow fast so we can have some delicious rice yesterday, if not sooner!

And so, Da Vinci Crop No. 1, Chaldean Paddy Rice spread across the land in a flash...

...instantly turning the land of Yamataikoku into an ancient super civilization with unparalleled rice production.

This in turn gave birth to a new Singularity: Super Rice Taikoku!

But that is a story for another time.

All right, everyone.

I'll see you all next week!

This is definitely a future I couldn't have predicted, even with my mirrors...

Oh well, it can't be helped!