The shocking truth: Merlin was a "catfish" all along! Several hours after the Summoning Ritual—where Romani's mental state underwent its own Ars Nova following Merlin's confession—peace had somewhat returned.
"Sniff..."
Sheba returned to the group, her animal ears drooping sadly. Everyone welcomed her back with sympathetic looks.
"How is Romani doing, Sheba-nyan...?"
"Well... he's in deep shock. He's just lying there muttering, 'I see big stars appearing and disappearing... is that Gil's Noble Phantasm? No... it's different, it's different...'"
(That's a full-on mental breakdown right there...)
It was understandable. The conceptual "healing" that had helped him survive ten years of back-breaking labor turned out to be... well, a very, very unwanted reality.
—But the fact that Magi☆Mari loved you, encouraged you, and gave you strength... that is a reality. It is a truth that cannot be overturned or violated by anyone. So... I will pray, in my own small way, that you do not come to hate the very concept of Magi☆Mari...
Nothing is meaningless; nothing is without value. Even if it's virtual, even if it doesn't exist in the physical world—the feelings born from seeing, feeling, and touching it are real.
—Therefore, I believe... that the Magi☆Mari Roman loved remains as beautiful as ever...
"By the way, I'm thinking of making my social media debut. Thoughts?"
(Drop dead.)
Air offered a prayer for the repose of Roman's soul.
"The time for parting has come... eh? To think I'd witness such a thing after everything was settled. Well, I shall visit him later. For now, forget it. Our battle has only just begun."
Changing the mood, the King of Heroes spun the summoning circle.
"Saber Lily is indeed the embodiment of possibility—perhaps even more radiant than the original... but that is no reason to stop reaching for the star itself."
"So that's how heroes move forward... I'm learning so much..."
Rikka was busy flipping through a mountain of fashion magazines, looking at the King with newfound respect. She was studying coordination and outfits with intense focus.
"Fashion is kind of like Custom Robo, isn't it?"
"I recommend dresses, Senpai!" Mash chirped.
"I wonder if there's a magazine that covers 'Gorilla-Woman' types like me..." Rikka mused.
"Worry not. If there isn't, I'll have Media write one. Look, here they come!"
As the light faded, a new figure appeared.
"Haaaay! The Winged Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, is here! Thank you for inviting me! I wanted to come so badly! To the restoration of humanity—Gracias!"
The cheerful "Big Sister." The true Goddess of Venus. The passionate Luchadora, filled with love and wisdom, had checked into Chaldea.
"Quetz-nee! Welcome!"
Rikka, currently dressed in a business suit and glasses, greeted her with a wide smile.
"Ciao, Rikka! Oh, are you working on yourself? Those glasses are charming!"
"Thanks! Medb kept nagging me, saying 'Wear something different every day! If you stay a one-outfit sparrow, it's off with your head!'"
"Yes, she's right. The moon phases shift, and the sun occasionally dims. But don't forget, Master."
Quetzalcoatl gently stroked Rikka's head and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"『Even when the Morning Star shines, the Sun ultimately blazes.』 Nothing can negate the essence of who you are. Do not fear change, okay? A wonderful girl is beautiful simply by existing."
"Quetz-nee..."
Rikka nodded firmly, moved by the goddess's warm affirmation.
"So this is a Goddess... a kind deity, so different from the personifications of natural phenomena in Mesopotamia..." Olga Marie whispered.
"Hahaha, I am proud to have ruled over them. Olga Marie, cease your 'accidental' insults toward Mesopotamia. I'm starting to feel embarrassed," Gilgamesh joked.
"I-I'm sorry!"
(Quetz-nee is great, isn't she, Air?)
—She makes me feel all warm and fuzzy...
The two of them felt a sense of cozy peace.
『And you too, Air-chan! Good work! I offer my deepest respect to you, who cast aside your omnipotence and your Grand title for the sake of the future and the protection of everyone.』
—Yes. Thank you. I believe my choice was not a mistake.
『Gracias! Let's Lucha together sometime! Ciao☆ To the King, the Princess, and the cute little Beast!』
With a cheerful blown kiss, Quetzalcoatl scooped up Olga Marie, Mash, and Sheba-nyan all at once and headed off to explore Chaldea.
"A true Goddess...! She's like the sun itself, Senpai!"
"If I weren't an Artemis devotee, I'd have converted on the spot..."
"That woman had the strength to suppress even Tiamat; as a combat asset, she is beyond reproach. My wise self has finally realized that some goddesses are actually tolerable," the King noted.
Gilgamesh nodded quietly. It seemed Ishtar was now the only one left on his "dislike" list.
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