Ricca noticed that she was surprised by the fact that hands were touching her.
'She is starving for warmth,' she realized. At the same time, she recalled Gramps' words.
—Flower of Poison. It shall be thy strength.
Flower of Poison... Warmth...
"—Serenity-san, a moment?"
Releasing the full-face helmet, she slowly removed Serenity's mask.
"Ah—"
"—Mana Transfer—!"
Just like that, she pulled Serenity close—
"Ngh—"
"—!!?"
Lips overlapped, granting 'Serenity's Wish'—
"Senpai?!"
"—What..."
"Lord Ricca, that is—!!"
'Why does she go to steal a girl's lips without hesitation?'
'...'
'Is something wrong? Marie-san? Ufufu♥'
'N-Nothing at all!'
A very soft kiss for the sake of Mana Transfer.
"—We aren't enemies. We came to save you!"
Suppressing the numbness running through her body, she winked to reassure her.
"—Why..."
As Serenity opened her eyes wide, Mash added a supplement.
"Senpai has 'Poison Resistance Skill (Temporary)'! Likely Galahad-san's way of being is protecting Senpai and me!"
"...That's why, even if you touch me..."
'Ricca! You must not sell your lips cheap! Good grief! Keep your virtue firm!'
Ricca bowed her head at Jeanne's scolding.
"Sorry, Jeanne. But... somehow, I just felt..."
Slowly, she stroked her hair.
"That she wanted to be touched... by someone. Like, she flinched when I touched her shoulder, so I thought she wasn't used to it."
Serenity just opened her eyes wide, staring at the woman in front of her.
"It's okay. I will touch you. ...Good work until now. Come, let's go together! It's going to be okay now!"
Immediately deploying the full-face helmet, she picked Serenity up in a princess carry and called out to everyone.
[Objective achieved! Let's get Gil to retrieve us!]
"—Hassan, sama..."
"She is our hope, recognized by the First Hassan. Do not be disrespectful."
"The First, Hassan...?"
[I met him! He was strict and kind! BARE THY NECK!!]
"Pyai—!"
Serenity shrank back, withered by the dignity emitted via the sub-audio from the woman in front of her.
[Ah, sorry!]
"...Though our desire is achieved, the path ahead is difficult. Be careful not to have your head taken, Serenity."
The eyes of Hassan's mask narrowed in sentiment...
"...Mash, hearing Agravain's name... did you feel anything?"
At the Knight King's question, Mash stated her own feelings.
"...Yes. It is strange, but... I felt 'If he is there, the King is safe'..."
At those words, she nodded with satisfaction.
"Yes. He hated people, and received cold treatment and evaluations from his colleagues that didn't match his devotion and loyalty... but without him, the Round Table could never be spoken of, and without him, glory was impossible. —If I were to speak of a flaw..."
The King thought of the shadow contributor not present here.
Agravain. An irreplaceable loyal subject who worked actively, took on dirty work, and supported her with devotion.
If he were there, even if he had gone completely mad—at the very, very end...
"—Galahad-san says, 'He was working too much'."
At Galahad's gentle point, the Knight King couldn't help but chuckle.
"Fufu. Yes. I hope he was able to take a breather with that leave request."
Instantly, a Golden Rope appeared in front of them, and the Hero King's voice echoed.
'You have obtained the desired treasure! Then you have no business in a dungeon! Grab that quickly and return to Vimana!'
This was the original of Escape selected by Air. The Labyrinth Escape Rope that allows escape from the depths of any dungeon.
—Artoria! Everyone, grab on!
"—Thank you very much, Princess. Come, everyone, let's escape."
[Alriiight! Retreat! BARE THY NECK!!]
"Pyai—!"
"Hah—!!"
While trembling at the sub-audio, the Sanzaang party and Ricca Team escaped Agravain's labyrinth using the 'Labyrinth Escape Rope' and returned to Vimana—
—All members, retrieval complete!
Confirming the lineup on Vimana's deck, I immediately counted and reported.
"You have fulfilled the job without issue. As expected of the Knight King. —Now, we jump to the desert! Prepare the Warp Drive, Air!"
—Yes! Fou, handle control!
(Leave it to me! Double Vimana Pilots with you and me!)
"Conqueror King! We obtained what we should! We are returning! Sun King! Connect the anchor to Vimana!"
The Hero King shouted sharp instructions. The Conqueror King, who had been driving the Gordius Wheel around, pouted.
"Mu, time's up? Hollow soldiers aren't worth kicking around anyway! Alriiight! Let's hurry to the next battle! HAAH!!"
Driving the chariot up, he connected the anchor to Vimana.
"Good, from here we head to the next destination, the desert ruins! Preparations are ready, I assume! Then let us go! A・U・O——!!"
Golden and emerald radiance was released, instantly wrapping the two ships and the chariot—
—Warp!
Jumping into the golden ripple that appeared before our eyes, in a single nanosecond—
...The Gorgeous Party accomplished the warp-out—
"...Hah—! I... what was I..."
"Awake, Sir Agravain? Good news and bad news, which would you like for a waking report?"
"...The bad news. I will deal with it."
"Just like you. ...The fortress holding the prisoners has fallen. It was Chaldea's forces."
"————No, trivial, My King. One or two Servants, no matter what happens, cannot hinder the King."
"Is that so? Then the good news. For you—I have exiled Sir Lancelot."
"—What."
"Sir Lancelot will surely side with them to correct us. Since he held doubts about my reign. —Do you have complaints, Agravain?"
"I could not possibly. —Praise and respect to our King who made a wise decision."
"It is not irrelevant to you, Agravain. Siding with them means..."
"I understand. I will slay that mad dog. I will not let even a single scratch be put on your majesty—"
"—The Tower of Chalk has begun to crumble. The Round Table is no longer bedrock. Then—we have reached the point where each life must show what it signifies."
—Yo, ————ha.
"...——"
—It is good that your life becomes lively, '*****'.
"—Agravain."
"Yes."
"...My."
"...?"
"—The name of the knight who watched over my final moments... what was it again—"
Desert
"..."
-------------------------------
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