Section 17: The Parched Hope Turns to Truth

But, I thought we were

Swallowed up by the mud? Guess not.

It's okay.

I'll keep the mud away!

Oooh, I see. That's a clever use of your Chaos Tide.

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...

Things're still pretty bad, though.

This is...Lady Nero's Domus Aurea.

It's Sodom's Beast's Noble Phantasm. So it's finally awakened...

？！

That's very different from the Sodom's Beast wethe other Chaldea fought.

Yeah. We just fought a version of Draco that was a lot bigger in, uh, certain places.

So the inside of that thing's gotta be

Yes. A new Sodom's Beast, with the incarnadines at its core. Which means Draco is gone forever...

No... Lady Nero...

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No! I refuse to accept this!

Tiamat?

Fujimaru! You mustn't give up!

Tiamat. Are you

I'm sorry, Fujimaru! Mother was wrong!

Draco may be a Beast, but deep down...she's another child crying out to be loved!

And that makes her Mother's darling child, too!

And Mother will never EVER abandon her children!

？！

Waaaaaah! I love you, Lady Tiamaaaaaat!

I'm gonna give you my very favorite truffle in my whooole collection!!!

Well that couldn't be a more different reception than the one I got.

Don't you worry about that big Incarnadine Demonic Beast! Mother will figure something out!

You just worry about finding Draco and bringing her back!

That sounds great, but...how do we do that?

Even if she is still alive, she's somewhere inside that huge monster, right?

？！

Yeah. We've come this far. After all that, we can't let this have a sad ending!

I'm not like Draco, after all. I don't have any hang-ups about ending a story on a high note!

I like stories about bright, shining stars...the kind that go on forever and ever!

All right...time for Mother to get serious!

...

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Worry not. Scary no more.

Not like old self now.

Uh...did her personality change along with her looks?

Protect everyone.

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Wha...!?

This power... It must be Beast II.

...Settle...down.

？！

...Fujimaru. So, the time has finally come.

Come with us, our Master. We are an Evil of Humanitythe City Eater Beast.

We will burn Rome's cities. We will burn all the world.

Rome's people, its humanity, its palaces, its thrones, its mother, its poison... We will burn it all.

All of it. Everything.

And we will see our last Rome...that accursed setting sun...with you...

Go!

Fujimaru!!!

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...I'm no one of consequence. In fact, I'm not even human.

I'm just a lifeless being who fought, wishing not to die.

She supported me. She said it was a dream every star has.

Francis Xavie

(Actually, I'd...better not. He seems like he wouldn't hesitate to believe me.)

(Maybe he's just seen far more Servants in one life than anyone should.)

I'm sorry. I was just kidding.

？！

It really was the smallest of connections that brought me here. But once I was here, I couldn't turn a blind eye.

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No, I wasn't.

I am Master of a Saber, but Draco is no Saber.

Draco came from that Saber's shadowa dream left behind by the Rose Emperor herself.

But that doesn't mean I can abandon her when she needs help.

I feel bad for what I did to you.

You see, I'm the one who arranged for you and Draco to be bound by a contract.

？！

Draco had been watching over you and your Chaldea...

...for a long time.

You see, that's why Sodom's Beast's Proof World...

...was an imitation of Chaldea's battles.

Despite being the Beast of Depravity, she hated both sloth and corruption...

...and she loved the small, but certain, glimmer of hope that shone in the midst of desire.

She loved following the trail of those who reached for the stars.

？！

Just tell me one thing.

As it is in fire's nature to consume all things, so too is it in love's nature to scorch everything it touches.

Having been born from the echoes of that Saber, Draco is no different. She inherited the properties of both.

Accepting her as she is means you'll never be able to escape her wicked love.

It means you will be walking side by side with an Evil of Humanity.

Even knowing that, do you still

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I see. I guess it was silly even asking at this point.

No other human has ever faced as many Evils of Humanity as you have.

...Take care of Draco for me.

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... ...

...You truly are incorrigible.

How many times must you barge so deep into my heart before you are satisfied?

You have already seen my greatest embarrassments. What further humiliation do you wish to visit upon me?

Ah, no matter.

In fact, you may well have come at a perfect time. It is still not too late to do what must be done.

If the incarnadines lose me, their core, they will die before they can complete their rebirth as Sodom's Beast.

So hurry. Kill me, right here and now.

？！

Use a Command Spell and order me to take my own life.

...Please, Fujimaru. Please, give me the curtainfall I deserve.

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...What are you talking about?

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...

Hope...

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Why?

Listen well, Incarnadine Demonic Beastsmy clones.

Do you recall me saying I meant to end my life gracefully after losing to Chaldea?

Well, I lied!

Apparently, I am even more hopelessly devoted to clinging to life than I realized!

Whyyyyyy!?

What was that!?

...Beast VI?

And as for you...

Even disgraced beyond belief, you refuse to collapse. Even in the face of overwhelming catastrophe, you continue to resist.

Magnificent! Well said, Fujimaru, my contracted Master!

I see your wishyour heartwarming desire for atrocityand I accept it!

Fujimaru! You truly are a Beast tamer!

？！

Lady...Nero?

Umu! What is wrong, Locusta? Go on! Heap your praise upon me!

Also, I must beg your forgiveness! The truth is, I am no more than a hypothetical Emperor Nero.

I am what she might have been had things ended worse for hera Beast who chose to curse the world rather than greet the sunset.

But this battleno, the resolve I've felt in the choices you made has lifted me from shadow to truth!

What you see now is a form from my future...a future which could not exist unless I pushed past that third sunset!

You may call me Reincarnated Otherworld ClaudiusNo, let us go with Demonic Beast Emperor Draco!

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Ahahahaha! Now this is really something!

That tyrant sure pulled one heck of a third act twist!

Draco...

Whoa! Beast II, is that you!?

So you are larger as well. Have you come to challenge me?

Unfortunately for you, I am just the slightest bit taller!

Hahahahahahahahaha!

Welcome back. (Squeeze)

Huh!? You are hugging me!? All right, I will allow it! I am nothing if not magnanimous!

Come, then! Embrace me tighter! Press your bountiful bosom against me all the more! All you like!

Is it just me, or is she...way different? In a buncha ways?

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Lady Nero... It's really you!

I am sorry to worry you, Locusta.

Lady Nero, I... I...

It is all right. You need not say anything more.

Yes, Locusta. That poison you made was meant to kill me.

But it was also your purest expression of love for me.

I cried out for love. You answered. You have done no wrong.

Well done, Locusta.

...Lady Nerooo!

Oh? You wish to hug me, too? Very well then. Embrace me!

...!?

Why, Draco!?

Why? Good question... I suppose the only answer I can give is that the power of...

...love...

...is not to be underestimated.

Something of an embarrassing thing to say, I must admit.

We were certain we had been reborn in our true form! Beast VI/S's throne should be ours!

So why! How do you have that Spirit Origin!?

...

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I see... So that's it.

Indeed. Did I not already tell you, my clones? The power of love is not to be underestimated.

One cannot be an Evil of Humanity without love for humanity. Thus, I shall remain a Beast even as I walk alongside humankind.

...

...You are no more than an all-consuming flame.

Yes, I know.

You will never reach the stars you seek.

Yes, I know.

But who among us has not reached for the stars in the night sky nevertheless?

I am sorry, my clones, but I cannot let you have Beast VI/S's throne.

We...will burn down Rome's world

Talk, as they say, is cheap. If you wish to speak, do so with your sword.

Fujimaru. This is where our journey ends.

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Indeed. Onward to our victory!

...I can't...die here... Not like...this...

I can't die yet. ...I don't want to die yet...

I...did nothing wrong...

How dare they... I will...burn...all the world...

As Nero, I did grieve my final moments spent with the setting sun. Ultimately, I accepted them, though.

As Draco, I could not. I shunned them instead.

Thus, my clones, you were the only ones left who still loathed and cursed my life.

You burned that which I threw aside as Nerothe obstinate flames of passion I sank into the muck.

...Well done.

But then, why did you still fixate on Fujimaru even after gaining your true form?

...My contracted Master... ...Stay with us...

Ah, of course. I should have known.

You could not bear to be left all alone when the sun set on the world for the last time.

Not without anyone to keep you company here in the heart of this empty wasteland.

...

Luxuria. Ira.

Invidia. Gula. Acedia.

Superbia. Avaritia.

Come back to me. Live within me.

And if the time should come again when I become a Beast bent on devouring humanity...then, we shall burn this worldthis Rome together.

Look. There in the sky.

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...Indeed. Our journey is at an end.

The ladder will take you from this Spiral Proof World, back to your own.

At long last, you and I can finally go our separate ways.

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...Forget it.

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Forget everything. What you saw earlier was not me.

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Oh, now that she's back to normal, she's just embarrassed about how she got all worked up earlier.

You know, I think I will kill you now.

Oh, you want a piece?

It's okay, Lady Nero! You were sooo beautiful as a grown-up, too!

Watch your mouth.

Eeeeee!

Damn. Barely batted an eye when Locusta betrayed us but that's got her yelling? Must be pretty sensitive about it.

Aw, Draco. Is puberty messing with your hormones?

Are you okay? Do you need a hug?

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I am unsure how such a thing is even possible, but you are somehow pissing me off MORE now!

Draco, my darling child, it's okay. You can be yourself around Mother.

Grr, release me! I am not about to get friendly with another Beast!

...What is it, Fujimaru? Why are you looking at me so fondly?

Cease. I hate it. It is making me want to tear you to pieces.

...Besides, the ladder is here now. It is time you returned to Chaldea.

Rest assured that our contract has been successfully broken. And, just as I promised, I returned to my true Beast form.

Indeed, everything has turned out just as I planned. This has been an unqualified victory for me. Hahahaha!

...Fujimaru.

Our contract may be broken...but you and I still share a bond.

Someday, Draco the City Eater will appear before you once more.

And when I do, I will devour your precious Chaldea, the model for my Proof World, as the ultimate delicacy.

Rest assured that I, Draco, will bear witness to your journey's end.

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...Did you not hear a word I said? Ugh, never mind.

Just take this and go.

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So you DID have it this whole time. And after all that running around you had us do.

I spoke no falsehood. Until Locusta filled it with poison, it had lost its power.

And a formless vessel with no power may as well not exist at all, no?

Hmph. Ah well, not like it matters now anyway.

Now hurry up, take this, and get out of my sight already. Go on, shoo, shoo.

Go, Fujimaru, and push past your own sunset.

Aw, crap! I'm starting to disappear!?

Dammit, I still had so much more Lady Nero to indulge in.

There's a lot more I wanted to catch up on, but I guess this is it for now!

One last thing: eat mushrooms, dammit!

Well, it seems it's time I was on my way, too.

Another journey with a wonderful ending. This is just what I love about you people.

Master of Chaldea, may the flowers' blessing be with you on the road ahead!

I hate to say goodbye, but it's time Mother went home, too.

Fujimaru, if you're ever in trouble again, call for Mother, day or night.

Especially if another Beast is acting out. Mother will make sure they're punished properly.

Then I'll stick around and spoil my darling children rotten.

...That's a pretty horrifying plan, if I do say so myself.

Well, until then, take care of yourself. ...Come on, Sétanta. You, too.

Hm? Oh, yeah... I know.

Welp, see you around, Master.

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...Fujimaru. Beast tamer. My contracted Master.

May your personal hell echo with thunderous applause.

...Alone again.

My mentor. I truly have come a long way... A distant place where no one will ever reach me.

The setting sun is gone. Now, there is only distant space stretching out in all directions.

All right, Draco. I think it is time we came up with a new story...