"Hmph. Using a Holy Grail picked up from who knows where? To sniff out and claim my treasures with such ease—as expected of a dragon, a phantom beast fit to guard wealth."
Having finished bestowing rewards upon Elisabeth, the proud King of Heroes took up the recovered Grail, inspecting and determining its worth. Though identical in form, it was merely a fragment of a Holy Grail. It lacked the power to rewrite eras or bend causality... It was a downgraded relic, capable of doing little more than giving shape to a young girl's pipe dreams.
—Shall we store it away? Even if it is a mere fragment, treasure remains treasure. It belongs to the King of Heroes, and thus it ought to be safely entombed within your Treasury.
Leaving a Holy Grail rolling around on the floor was hardly appropriate. Ea had gathered them all to create a dedicated storage room for Grails. The space was ready, capable of receiving it instantly whenever necessary; all that remained was to collect it.
"..."
The King's gaze lingered on the Grail in his hand for a moment before he gave a soft snort. And just like that—
"Enough. Take it as a tip. It was only a fragment to begin with—a useless leftover unfit for my Treasury."
Without a second thought, the King of Heroes tossed it to Rikka and turned to walk toward his quarters.
"Wait, are you serious?!"
"It is only right that completing the task yields a reward. Though it is somewhat ill-suited, keep it. Use it as you wish, but exercise restraint and responsibility, understood?"
With that final instruction, the King of Heroes pressed the matter no further. For once Gilgamesh had decreed it, his word was absolute judgment.
—Thank you for your hard work, Gil. Let's get some rest in your room today.
(That's right. You went and pulled an uncharacteristic act of self-sacrifice. If your health falters, I'm getting dragged down right along with you! Take care of your body. Take a break every single second.)
"Hmph. What roundabout concern and consideration. Can you not speak as plainly as Ea for once?"
(Why on earth would I say nice things to you? It's disgusting. Don't get the wrong idea! I'm only worried because you're Ea's precious vessel and our King.)
—Fou, you're so kind. Truly, thank you as always.
(Ah, Ea—)
Moved by Ea's soothing gratitude, Fou transformed into a Precious Candy and nestled straight into her pocket.
—Fou?!
Ea was taken aback by Fou's sudden, long-absent shape-shift. Since he hadn't performed a Precious Change in quite some time, the unexpected move caught her completely off guard.
"The routine of death after so long? Very well, I pardon it. Continue to push your body to entertain us at all hours."
Surrounded by the unchanging nature of the Beast and the princess whose expressions shifted endlessly at his side, the well-pleased King returned to Chaldea's royal quarters with a smile on his face—
'Handing over a Holy Grail just like that... It really makes Mages look like a joke. Well, if that's the King of Heroes' decision, nothing can be done. Excellent work, you three. Once you've washed up, feel free to turn in for the night.'
'It's already late. Get a good rest. You've been locking horns with Servants, so the fatigue must have piled up.'
Marie and Roman announced the end of the operation and cut the comms link. With the debriefing finished, only three remained in the room.
"Senpai, I'll carry Elisabeth-san to the lab. I think... everything was a bit too intense for her."
Carrying the collapsed, twitching Elisabeth, Mash walked toward the exit, her face bearing a subtle trace of exhaustion.
"Thanks for your hard work. Did you have fun, Mash?"
"Yes, very much so. Goodnight, Arcueid-san, Senpai."
"Great work~! Let's meet again, okay? Though I don't know when that'll be!"
With a smiling bow, Mash left the room to fulfill her duty. Silence settled over the stage venue, leaving just the two of them behind.
"Fun times really do pass in the blink of an eye. I wonder how long it's been since I've had such a delightful night?"
"It was fun, Arc-nee."
"Yeah. Laughing with all my heart, fighting to protect someone, going on an adventure together... Every bit of it was fresh, and such a wonderful experience."
Exchanging words, sharing smiles, the two reflected on the fleeting time. Even if it felt like a single night's dream, the bond they forged... the time they built together was deeply precious.
"...Hey, Rikka-chan."
Arcueid broke the quiet, turning to Rikka.
"Want to try forming a contract? With me. I'm just an apprentice Servant, so the master-servant dynamic might be a bit awkward... but if it's with you, I know I can trust you with my back."
Through this experience, Arcueid had grown genuinely fond of Rikka and the way Chaldea operated. Without distinction between True Ancestor, human, or Heroic Spirit, they joined hands to forge ahead—a manner of being that moved her deeply.
Above all... she loved how unconventional it was compared to the rigid frameworks of Mages. Doing things the way you wanted, and having that very act become the power to save the world—what a magnificent organization.
And more than anything...
"I've never had a female Master before. How about being my first? Just kidding!"
Arcueid recognized the worth of someone so straightforward and fun to be around. She knew how wonderful it was to have someone cherish you—to be respected not for your sheer strength, but as an individual.
That was why—even after this night's dream drew to a close—she wanted to stay together a little longer. To keep this delightful encounter and wonderful dream going. Not letting it end as a dream, but turning reality into something joyful.
"What do you think? Am I not reliable enough?"
Rikka shook her head instantly. Not at all—I'd love nothing more.
"I couldn't ask for more! I want to stay with you longer too, Arc-nee! It was so much fun, and you're so kind and strong!"
Rikka felt the exact same way. She had a mother and a brother, friends and a king. She had juniors, gods, an old man, and an elder sister figure.
However... the feeling of having an 'older sister' so close to her was a warmth she was experiencing for the very first time. If possible, she wanted to stay together just like this. To form a contract and fight side by side.
—...But.
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