Tiamat vanished under Gilgamesh’s attack, and the Underworld was collapsing. Ritsuka and Mash had gone up to the surface, while I had to make my way up on foot. Damn it. And where had the skeleton gone?
Before leaving, I went to say one final goodbye to Ishtar, who was with Ereshkigal. Ereshkigal said she could no longer hold on because of her contract with the Underworld.
"Still, I’m so happy. I found friends, and so many flowers have bloomed in the Underworld. It’s a wonderful way to end things. Saber, my first friend... Will you remember me along with her?"
...
I nodded.
"That’s a relief. Thank you. If you remember me, then someday we’ll meet again. I’m looking forward to that day..."
I nodded again. Another chain wrapped around her, and Ereshkigal vanished. This was probably what Mari wanted too. Mari kept making me form connections and promises. Someday, she would tell me why.
"Hah... At least she was smiling when she vanished. Hmph. Take my hand. I’ll give you a ride, so consider yourself honored."
I rode Ishtar’s Maanna up with her. Thank goodness. I had nearly ended up climbing all the way out of this underground place.
Hmm.
It seemed dismissal would take a little while.
Should I go see Ritsuka and Mash?
Merlin, Ishtar, Mash, and Ritsuka were all chatting among themselves, while I leaned against a wall.
"But why did you help us, Merlin?"
"I’m your fan, Fujimaru Ritsuka. Watching all you’ve done made me want to help, so I came running."
Come to think of it, he had said he ran here all the way from Avalon. Impressive stamina for a mage. Raya Lucaria should take notes.
"Ritsuka, Mash, you have my respect. And Saber, I do not know what your goal is, but after watching you all this time, I know you could never become an evil person. You have my respect as well. Until next time."
Smiling, Merlin disappeared amid a flurry of flowers. Then I went with Ritsuka’s group to see Gilgamesh. On the way, Mash and Ritsuka looked as though they had countless questions to ask me. But they were probably hesitating because I would soon be dismissed.
Eventually, we arrived at the Ziggurat where Gilgamesh was, and woke him up. Why was this man sleeping?
They spoke with one another. Gilgamesh told us how, after the death of his dear friend Enkidu, he had set out on a journey to obtain immortality. Immortality...
"I did obtain the herb of immortality in the end, but while I looked away for a moment, a snake ate it."
Wow.
Still, knowing you, you must have laughed instead of getting angry.
"I lost in an instant what I had gained after dedicating my entire life to it, yet all I could do was laugh. To look toward tomorrow even after losing everything—that is what I learned of the human world."
...
"Humans continue to grow without end until their lives run out, and the shape of their hearts continues to accumulate. That is human history."
I was glad I had come here.
The shape of one’s heart accumulates...
Then Chaldea called for us to return. Was this truly the end now? It seemed I was beginning to be dismissed as well. Magical energy scattered from my body, and I gradually faded.
"Saber!"
"Saber!"
"Are you leaving?"
"Are you going?"
I nodded.
I was sorry to leave too.
Would I ever be able to meet these friends again...?
Without a word, I nodded and took Brass Daggers from the pouch at my waist, giving one each to Ritsuka and Mash. They would be my final farewell gifts.
"Oh? I’ve never seen those daggers before. And the power sleeping within them... Are they transferable Noble Phantasms? I would like to add them to my collection."
"What about mine? Don’t I get one?"
Heh.
This king and goddess were quite greedy.
But I only had one blade left now.
"Tch. Then I cannot be outdone. Here, a souvenir. I shall bestow it upon you myself."
Gilgamesh gave Ritsuka a Holy Grail. Hmm. We had already recovered the Holy Grail from Tiamat, so was he giving her another one?
"Ah, right. There is one thing I forgot. Ritsuka, Mash, Saber."
"Hm? What is it, King?"
"Yes, what is it, King Gilgamesh?"
"How was Uruk?"
I closed my eyes, and the emotions I had first felt upon arriving in this other world, along with everything I had felt since, passed through my mind.
Hmm.
It had been fun.
"It was fun."
"It was fun!"
I nodded, and Ritsuka and Mash answered that they had enjoyed it too. It was an emotion I had not felt in a very long time—so long that I could not remember the last time I had felt this way.
"Then."
"Let’s meet again next time, Saber!"
"We absolutely have to meet again, Saber."
Yes. If fate allows it, let’s meet again.
I walked over to them and embraced them both.
I was really going to miss them.
My first friends in this other world.
Then my body scattered, and I was dismissed.
And then...
This was awfully sudden, but...
Did that bastard melt my senior? Mash?
It had been a while since my head had felt this hot.
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