"Let's play hockey!"
"Yeah! Bring it on!"
"It's Sétanta versus 150 of you!"
"Huh?"
...
"How pathetic. Is that all you've got?"
"S-Sétanta is insane..."
『Piles of corpses』
"Actually, why can't we win?"
Whenever they played hockey, it was always Cú Chulainn alone versus 150 buff men. Yet, Cú Chulainn won with a perfect score every single day.
"So, I exist in the Singularity, huh."
"...Then he must be here as well. ...Most likely, he has joined the Celtic faction, Arjuna..."
『While wearing a cleaning outfit and cleaning the room』
"Medb. Find out where Nero, Eliza, and the others are."
"You're going to kill the Dragon Girls, aren't you!"
"After I take a nap. If they're still wandering around when I wake up, then their time is up."
"Okaaaay, goodnight, Cú-chan!"
"...Wake me if anything happens."
Even if you pile up 99% perspiration (effort), without 1% inspiration, all that effort is wasted.
"I heard something I cannot ignore from one who calls himself a King, Lion Head. 'Save only America'—what kind of perspective is that? Let us hear your reasoning."
Taking a glass in hand, the Golden King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, questions him slowly.
"..."
"Nightingale, not yet."
Rikka stops Nightingale, whose hand is slowly reaching for her holster, and urges dialogue with Edison.
"There is no need to save the world. If I have the Holy Grail, I can improve it to prevent the incineration of the era."
"——So you intend to 'disimprove' my treasure. You have narrowly escaped death, Lion Head. Had it not been for Karna's plea, I would have skewered you by now."
Soaking his slightly rising killing intent in wine and drinking it down, the King snorts.
——Certainly, Edison is the King of Inventors, a hero skilled in conceptual improvement. However, if he does that...
"If I do so, this world called America will be born on a timeline different from other eras."
"Can't underestimate modern heroes, huh. Can you seriously do something like that?"
Edison puffs out his chest at Cú Chulainn's skeptical gaze.
"I have concluded that it is fully possible."
"What happens to the other eras?"
Rikka asks, her tone quiet but filled with anger.
"——They will likely perish."
"Then there is no meaning in it!"
Mash's condemnation echoes through the room. The King follows suit.
"Indeed. It is out of the question. To compromise on one's mission while calling oneself a King is outrageous. A King is one who always performs work that satisfies himself. One who saves the entire world spread out before him. To bow to reality, avert one's eyes from destruction, and save only what fits within one's own hands... claiming the Royal Road with such an attitude is foolish. Is that the extent of the country called America, mongrel?"
——That is absolutely not the Royal Road.
As if responding to the King, a righteous indignation and resentment rage within the Princess's soul.
I am certain. With my very soul, as one who has witnessed the True King, I want to slam a 'NO' against Edison's opinion.
If he were a Messiah, that would be fine. He could just save what he wants to save.
If he were a Guru, that would be fine. He could just save those who believe in him.
But a King. If one claims the title that should shoulder all of this world, absolutely never should they save only what is within their reach.
...No, it is the opposite. 'King' is a word that refers to one who shoulders the entire world, everything in this existence.
If a King says he will save, it means nothing other than saving the entire world. If he is to fulfill a duty that satisfies a King, there is no room for interpretation or adjudication other than saving everything in this world.
That is why the King is challenging the Human Order. That is why I am assisting the King with all my heart and soul.
...If you speak of being a King, if you decide to live as one. If you decide to save. You must absolutely never choose a conclusion other than 'I will save everything'. To conclude that you will save only the territory you rule and abandon the rest... that is impermissible...!
Because in this entire world, there is nothing superfluous. All of it is the King's garden. There is nowhere that can be cut away at the discretion of anyone other than the King of Heroes.
...And because the world is an irreplaceable place for me to have 'Joy'. The people living there, the lives, the cultures. I don't want them cut away arbitrarily by someone. That—I cannot forgive.
Everything in this world has long been shouldered by the King. Therefore, the King who saves this world cannot be anyone but the King of Heroes. If you call yourself a King, I will not forgive compromise.
Acquire a worthy world and protect it. Crush anyone who gets in the way, utterly. And then——save the world at the pinnacle of that way of life.
That is the pride held by one who is King. ...And the brilliant Royal Road of the King whom I love, respect, and am proud of...!
"..."
Silently, the King places his hand on the head of the Princess, who is fuming at the insult to the King's way of life, and pats her.
"...Your reverence is truly pleasant, Ea."
——I am frustrated, my King... I am ashamed of myself for only being able to hold an opinion while under the King's protection, for getting angry while cowardly hiding, for not being able to say a single opinion...!
I want to slam it into him, I want to tell him...! The King I have seen is not something so small...!
(——You are definitely not just a princess who is protected and pampered...)
Slowly going into cardiac arrest, Fou is peacefully euthanized.
(You are precious, Ea——)
"Gu, uu... nuu..."
"...!"
Rikka did not miss the way Edison appeared to be suffering extraordinarily at Mash's condemnation and the King's accusation.
"...What are you saying. Could there be a more wonderful meaning?"
Immediately regaining his composure, Edison—no, the Patriot—speaks.
"This America will remain forever. My inventions will rebuild America. It will demonstrate to the Celts, who simply continue to multiply and fight. That my inventions are the light of humanity, the power of civilization."
"Is that so? I have no intention of taking Medb's side, but aren't you the same as her in terms of wickedness right now?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Cú Chulainn asks teasingly.
"Wh-What are you saying, Child of Light."
"Those guys over there don't care what happens as long as their country is good, and you don't care what happens to others as long as America is good. Looks to me like there isn't much difference. Actually, maybe you're colder for making the decision to cut them off? No..."
Glint, his crimson eyes shine sharply.
"The moment you dragged every single citizen into the war, you became much worse quality. Medb, who only uses her own bodily fluids, starts to look a little better."
"Gugu, nuu...!"
Holding his head, Edison endures a headache.
"Is that why you are expanding the battle lines? While discarding the soldiers who lose their lives in battle."
Nightingale no longer has the will to discuss; hers is the gaze of a doctor who has found a disease.
"Even I, ugh, guh. I do not discard them because I want to, but..."
"Edison, calm down. Everyone's opinions are just opinions, not accusations."
Rubbing Edison's back gently, Helena admonishes him.
"...I know. That was just the usual headache, don't worry about it. For us right now, for me, this country is everything. As a King, one has the duty to protect one's own country above all else."
"But that isn't the Royal Road of a Hero."
The Great Hero of Ulster asserts firmly.
"We are heroes. What we have to protect more than a country or anything else is the future of those living now. Don't make me laugh. 'Protect only your own country and to hell with the rest'? ...You're the same. Just another dime-a-dozen like the foolish kings I've seen."
"Indeed. Even I, as I am now, have a part of my reason that thinks so. Mr. Edison. If you deny that, you are nothing more than a patriot."
"That is correct. What is wrong with me, as a King, being a patriot?"
"——Is that so. In that case, there is only one thing for me to do!"
Swiftly, Nightingale draws her gun from its holster.
To stop that...
"No, Nightingale. That's the promise."
Rikka restrains her with one hand.
"I don't want to use Command Spells to bind my Servants... so endure it for now."
"Why, Doctor! I know. Leaders with eyes like this always lead everything to ruin! And in the end, they irresponsibly proclaim! 'It wasn't supposed to be like this!'"
Nightingale's scream was strikingly real.
It was a scream threatening to cough up blood, coming from one who has known leaders who created countless battlefields, one who has seen those who made the decision to discard countless lives.
"Even so, he is fighting. To save 'something'. In that regard, he is the same as us. So not yet—we must not fight him yet."
"Doctor..., ...tch."
Gritting her teeth, Nightingale lowers her gun. If the Doctor decided so, the nurse cannot run wild—it was a restraint born of reason and conviction.
"...Fujimaru Rikka, what do you think?"
Edison continues, throwing the question to Rikka.
"Should you not fight the Celts with me and seize the Holy Grail?"
"We cannot fight together. Because afterwards, we would have to fight you for the Grail."
With immediate decision and resolution, humanity's last Master passed judgment.
"No matter the reason, no matter the conviction, I have no intention of wielding the power of everyone in Chaldea for anything other than 'Saving the World'."
"You say you will save the world, yet you say you cannot join hands with us."
"The world we must save isn't just America. It is all the burned worlds."
Flatly. Straightforwardly, Rikka told the Great President King.
The world you desire and the world we desire are different.
We won't attack you, but we won't stand shoulder to shoulder either.
Because I saw that only conflicting interests and opposition await beyond cooperation... this is a rupture.
"...To say it is unexpected... it is an unexpected answer. Regardless of what schemes you might hatch in the shadows, I thought you would agree to a joint front."
"As my belief, I absolutely do not engage in superficial relationships. If we're going to be friends, we do it thoroughly. Otherwise, I'll wait for the opportunity until we can become friends. ...Because I hate relationships where we try to outwit each other deep down."
"Hmph."
"...Heh, that's right!"
——Yup!
"...That sincerity, that earnestness. As Thomas Alva Edison, I suppose I should forgive it. However, as the Great President King, I..."
Rikka immediately braces herself.
"——No, do not worry. Lower your guard, Rikka."
The one who stopped it was the shining Hero of Charity.
"Karna-san..."
"I told you, I will not allow combat between the two sides. If you have completed the dialogue and exchanged your wills, that is the end of it. I will stake my life to stop any act of harming each other."
Karna declares solemnly.
"Karna-kun..."
"Haste ruins the body, Edison. They possess the power to easily rewrite the balance of forces. If we lay a hand on them here, it will mean the decisive defeat and destruction of America."
At Karna's straightforward words of power, the 'Something' smoldering within Edison is persuaded.
"...You truly picked up a good find, mongrel."
"Oh yeah. It's nice to be bought so highly by the Hero of Charity."
The two laugh without showing much panic.
——Yes. We were both saved by Karna-san's nobility.
"...Fujimaru Rikka. In that case, I propose a compromise of overlooking each other's forces and non-interference. Except for cases where combat is unavoidable, we shall do no harm to each other's existence. How about that?"
『A non-aggression pact, then. I think that's good. At least we don't have to worry about getting stabbed in the back.』
Rikka nods at Roman's mutter.
"Yeah! Because our enemy isn't you guys!"
"——I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am glad that a human like you is humanity's last Master."
Small but certain, a smile floats onto Karna's face.
"——Here, the judgment of both camps has been passed. Upon my name, I do not acknowledge combat between us. As guests, they shall be escorted safely from the President House, and you are not permitted to harm our forces."
(...I kinda half-killed most of them... but well, that was before the contract, so it should be fine.)
"The dialogue on which fate hung has ended. ——Go forth, heroes of Chaldea. Grasp your salvation on this vast American earth."
"Yeah, understood. Thank you, Karna-san."
"Umu. To think it ended so peacefully even with us present."
"..."
...Nightingale is biting her lip, staring at Rikka with tears in her eyes.
"——————Sorry, Karna-san. Can I just say one word, spiritually?"
"...Ah, I don't mind."
"Great President King... no, Edison."
"What is it, Dragon Spirit Girl."
Slowly, she inhales.
"I'm off. To find the '1% Inspiration, the power to save the whole world'. So that the '99% Perspiration, everyone's battles', won't go to waste."
Receiving those words, Edison is stunned.
"That, phrase is——"
"And one more thing! A word of cold medicine for the sickness you suffer from!"
She inhales even more, even deeper.
"The current Edison! Unlike the biography I read long ago, is totally uncool!!"
"GAAAAAAAAA!!?"
Edison collapses prostrate.
"——A fatal wound. That was severe medication. I am impressed, Rikka."
"This should delay him a little! Now let's go! Nightingale, everyone!"
"——Yes, Doctor!"
——Thus, without spilling a single drop of blood.
The Gorgeous President Meeting came to an end——
In front of the President House
"...I apologize for making you come all this way."
"It is fine. I saw a quite thrilling refutation. I was not bored, so I will laugh and let it pass."
"Is that so. ...You've started laughing with a good face. The you of now."
"I picked up something hard to obtain, you see."
"——Cherish it well."
"Thanks for seeing us off! Karna-san!"
"...The dialogue ended in an unfortunate result, but I have not given up. As long as we continue to fight on this earth, our paths will surely cross."
"Yeah. I'd like to avoid fighting you too; my oath is in danger."
"Gratitude for the good fortune of being able to part laughing like this. King of Heroes, Child of Light, and——"
——?
"——No, it is nothing. Just thanks for making the trip. I shall gift you one pointer. ——On this continent, there is a force resisting both factions, a Resistance. Perhaps, they might become the catalyst for you... no, for saving the world."
"Hmph. Investing in a long-shot faction and achieving a complete victory is also amusing. I do not mind, Master."
"I have no problem either. I follow Master's policy. That's the Ulster way."
"Okay! Then, I'll try going there! Thank you, Karna-san!"
"May the blessing of the Sun be upon your journey——Farewell."
"Now, let us go. Doctor."
"Sorry, Nightingale."
"No... ...It was a thrilling medication."
"Really? That's good!"
"Sorry to keep you bastards waiting!"
"Strong kiss... Nagomi Yashi. Is this tsundere..."
"What are you doing, Loeg."
"Father! Welcome back!"
"Vroom vroom (Aren't you hungry? Wanna eat a Rune Carrot?)"
"Neigh (Let's run quickly~)"
"Alright, alright. Okaaay! You bastards! We're heading to some town that's under attack!!"
——F-Fou.
(Hm? What is it, Ea?)
——Forget the me from earlier, okay? I got a little too heated... Edison-san was doing his best in his own way... I was being too self-righteous... I have to reflect...
(It's okay, Ea. Getting angry gives you wrinkles. I can't forgive that. Now, hug me lots later and be healed. Okay? I will always be by your side.)
——Yeah! Thank you, Fou!
(You're welcome, my Princess! (Shatters into stained glass))
Fou!?
"...Frustrated that you could not convey your own will, huh. ...Being too sheltered becomes a shackle, I see."
——King?
"Talking to myself. ...Ea, let us set up a place for your training again in the near future."
? Th-Thank you very much!
"Your indignation earlier was splendid. I must put even more spirit into meeting your expectations now——"
"Alriiiight! For now, let's run around America!"
"——That is far too inefficient. If you don't mind, I shall act as your guide."
"!? Who are you!?"
"Did I surprise you? I am... let me name myself thus. 'Geronimo'... is my name."
"Madame! Madame—! What, what did I do wrong—!?"
"There, there. You were splendid just for not being killed and not making enemies of them."
"...Sorry, Edison. This was the only way I could think of to protect you without hurting them."
"Thank you, Karna-kun! But those words of hers... It's a shock! Truly! What about me disappointed her so much——!!"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"