『 "FUJIMARU RITSUKA—!" The defeated Beast Husk let out a heart-wrenching, low growl!
"Draco, by my Command Spell, I order you!" Fujimaru Ritsuka immediately used a Command Spell, and a brilliant white light flashed.
When Fujimaru Ritsuka opened her eyes again, she found herself in an ocean brimming with a sense of high technology. This was none other than the Moon Cell's Sea of Est!
"I finally get to meet you," said a girl in white with long black hair softly.
The person in front of her was the very one who had been quietly watching over Fujimaru Ritsuka and Beast Nero.
Fujimaru Ritsuka wondered who she was, but the girl did not answer directly.
She murmured, "I am no great figure. To put it deeper, I am not even human."
"I fought with the desire not to die, yet I am an existence that doesn't even possess life."
"But she accepted me for who I am. She told me that we are all just a dream dreamt by the planet. Back then, I was the one who facilitated the contract between you and Draco."
"Draco has always been watching you. Though she is a fallen Beast, she despises filth and detests sloth—"
"She has always deeply loved that tiny yet reliable hope, the stars that shine amidst the filth, and the journey of those who move toward those stars."
Hearing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka also completely accepted the fact that Beast Nero's Evil of Humanity was none other than Love of Humanity, and that she would move forward alongside the Evil of Humanity!
Reassured, the girl handed Beast Nero over to Fujimaru Ritsuka. 』
『 .....』
〜Type-Moon World, ????? Worldline〜
Somewhere in an Unnamed Place—
"Oh my~ is that Hakunon? How adorable~"
Lady Avalon's eyes widened slightly, her red pupils gleaming with a golden brilliance as she looked at the black-haired girl on the screen and couldn't help but chuckle.
Kishinami Hakuno, the weakest of the weak, who would ultimately challenge the strongest of the strong—one of the 128 Masters who fought in the Holy Grail War of the virtual spiritron world~!
As expected, this child's bond with Nero is indeed the deepest. Even when Nero became a Beast, it remained so.
And it wasn't just Beast Nero. In that branch line, Hakuno was the absolute protagonist~
After all, hadn't she formed deep bonds with the likes of Altera, Tamamo-no-Mae, Nameless, Gilgamesh, Nero, and so on~?
I wonder if there will be a chance to see that child Hakuno again~
—
『 As the white light faded, Fujimaru Ritsuka arrived in the depths of the imperial palace, where she once again met the young Beast with golden hair and crimson eyes.
"You really are utterly hopeless, aren't you? Prying deep into others' hearts time and time again… I have already made such a pathetic display of myself, yet what further humiliation do you wish to subject me to?"
Beast Nero kept her eyes closed. Though she sounded reproachful, there was a hint of shyness and tsundere-ness in her words.
But before Fujimaru Ritsuka could speak, she let out a sigh. "Fine. Or rather, your timing is just right. There is still time. Once I, who serve as the core, am lost, the Beast Husks will be destroyed. Kill me before they become the complete Beast of Sodom."
That was right. Beast Nero wanted Fujimaru Ritsuka to use a Command Spell to kill her right now!
"…Please, Fujimaru Ritsuka. This time, you must give me the ending I deserve," she said in a low voice, her eyes cast down.
Those eyes, which should have been like brilliant gems, were now dull and filled with a longing for death.
Fujimaru Ritsuka did not answer. The young Beast's figure was reflected in the girl's eyes. She looked at Beast Nero and asked softly, "Why… does the Spiral Proof World lead to the sky?"
"…What are you talking about?" Beast Nero was taken aback.
"Because our journey—is a path that climbs toward the sky, with hope as our destination."
"With hope in our hearts… climbing toward the sky…" Beast Nero's eyes widened as she murmured unconsciously.
"Yes."
The Beast trapped beneath the earth yearned to fly to the sky and touch the stars. The Sixth Beast, in her desperate struggle, sought the answer—
"By my Command Spell, I order you—live, Draco!" As the final Command Spell faded, the Beast Husk in the outside world instantly froze in place!
Its eyes widened in disbelief.
Why… ?!!
"Listen well, Beast Husk, my alter ego. Having been defeated by Chaldea, I should have gladly welcomed my final curtain. However, my apologies—that was a lie. It seems that I am still utterly hopeless after all."
A brilliant, dazzling cold light flashed, and countless dividing lines instantly sliced the massive body of the Beast Husk into hundreds of pieces!
Though the Beast Husk restored itself in an instant, its eyes were filled with unspeakable shock and horror!
It roared in frustration, looking toward the dark corner. "Who are you?!"
A slender, tall, blonde woman holding a massive red sword appeared in its place!
That was none other than Beast Nero in her brand-new form, empowered by Fujimaru Ritsuka's Command Spell! 』
『 .....』
『 Viewers of Myriad Worlds 』
"A Beast and a Beast existing at the same time? And in the same place?"
"How utterly unreasonable. As long as Fujimaru Ritsuka is around, anything is possible, isn't it?!"
Looking at the Beast Husk's crumbling and bewildered state, everyone couldn't help but laugh.
Youngster, if you want to become a Beast, you still need a lot of practice~!
.....
『 "Splendidly done, my Contractor, Fujimaru Ritsuka! This desire of yours shall be fulfilled by me!"
"You are indeed the one worthy of being called the Rider who drives the Beast!"
Locusta could not believe her eyes. Emperor Nero had returned…!
Beast Nero took a deep breath. "My apologies. Forgive me, Locusta. This is merely an 'IF' of Emperor Nero—one who did not welcome the sunset, but instead saw the Beast path that cursed the world. The bad ending of Emperor Nero."
"But this battle—no, your choices and your wills—have pulled me up from the shadows to make this a reality!"
"This form can be said to have transcended those three sunsets. An impossible possibility, my future form!"
Seeing this scene, Lady Avalon couldn't help but laugh. "That tyrant really hit an unexpectedly grand happy ending~!"
"Draco, welcome back!" Tiamat looked at the Beast Nero before her—the child before her—and gave her a big hug.
Beast Nero did not refuse at all. She even hugged Tiamat back tightly. At this moment, her personality was already identical to the Nero Claudius of Pan-Human History.
BOOM—!
A massive tremor resounded. Crossing the black mud, the true body of the Beast Husk stared fixedly at Beast Nero with dozens of crimson eyes. It roared, "Why, Draco?!"
"We should have already been reborn as the true body of the Beast! The seat of Beast VI belongs to us! YET WHY IS YOUR SAINT GRAPH—!"
Beast Nero did not hide it. She grandly displayed her Saint Graph, the Evil of Humanity—Applause!
"My alter ego, this is the power of love. The Evil of Humanity is none other than the Love of Humanity! Therefore, I shall continue to walk alongside humanity as an Evil of Humanity!"
"You are merely a flame that will burn itself out!" the Beast Husk countered with a sneer. "You cannot reach the stars!"
"I know," Beast Nero nodded. "But who among us has not once reached out their hand toward the stars in the night sky?"
"My apologies, my alter ego. I cannot yield the seat of Beast VI to you."
The Beast Husk's composure was completely shattered. Intense flames erupted from its body as it attempted to burn the entire Singularity to ashes along with Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others, burying them here forever!
What awaited it, however, was a severe beating from everyone, finally ending with Beast Nero cleaving it apart with a single strike of her sword.
With that, Beast Nero dispersed her true form, returning once again to her petite appearance.
The group stood in the opera house. The dome had been blown open, and its past glory was no more.
The darkness at the horizon was gradually dispelled as the golden afterglow of dawn slowly illuminated the sky.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka, our ill-fated relationship ends here. Forget about it," Beast Nero said softly, holding the Holy Grail.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Fujimaru Ritsuka played dumb.
"…Forget all of it! That wasn't me just now!" Beast Nero said, blushing with embarrassment!
"…Alright, hurry up and leave. You have completely regained your strength, Fujimaru Ritsuka. However, I will watch over your end properly."
"Umu, take this," Beast Nero tossed the Holy Grail to Fujimaru Ritsuka. "Now, take this thing and shoo, shoo, shoo."
As Beast Nero shooed them away, the group had no choice but to return. Locusta was reluctant to leave, while Lady Avalon remarked that she hadn't had enough of such a wonderful story yet.
Tiamat gave Beast Nero another hug before heading back with Setanta.
"Thank you, Draco," Fujimaru Ritsuka said, her nose tingling slightly as she looked at the once again lonely Beast Nero.
"…Fujimaru Ritsuka, Rider of the Beast, my Contractor. May thunderous applause be offered to your hell." 』
『 .....』
〜Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend World〜
"A Beast is truly a creature that is tough on the outside but soft on the inside—in short, a tsundere! And this golden-haired, red-eyed young girl is the tsundere among tsunderes!"
Eriri showed her cute little canine teeth and spoke with disdain.
She, Eriri, could spot this kind of textbook tsundere at a single glance!
But… she must be very lonely…
It seemed all Beasts were like this. The girl recalled the Beasts that had appeared; one after another, they were all like this.
Evils of Humanity, yet they yearned to be loved by humanity.
—
『 As Fujimaru Ritsuka's figure departed, the dilapidated opera house was once again left with only Beast Nero.
She looked at the darkness that had not yet fully dispersed on the horizon, and the stars shining within that darkness. The young Beast reached out her hand and murmured to herself.
"Am I left alone once again? My teacher… I have truly come to a very distant place… a place that no one can reach."
"The sunset can finally no longer bind me. Only the infinitely extending sky remains."
"Come, Draco. What kind of story shall I compose next?"
The golden afterglow cast its light upon that exquisitely beautiful and petite figure. Glimmering tears welled up in Beast Nero's eyes. Behind her, at the intersection of light and shadow…
A figure seemed to appear behind her. It was the very girl who had been quietly watching over her from within the Sea of Est.
As if realizing something, Beast Nero turned her head, but there was nothing there.
Yet she already knew. A gorgeous smile bloomed on her face, which was illuminated by the morning sun.
"…So that's how it is. I… really am foolish."
My Praetor, you kept your promise… 』
『 .....』
『 Viewers of Myriad Worlds 』
Everyone understood that this must be an existence that had formed a bond with Beast Nero… or rather, Nero, in a different world, and that this bond was profound to a terrifying degree.
However, this girl was in a very special state, which meant she could only remain in that Sea of Est and watch over her silently.
They just didn't know which world-line it was.
At the same time, everyone felt it was a pity. Why didn't Fujimaru Ritsuka just take Beast Nero with her?!
To only obtain a bond, meaning she might be able to summon her in the future? She should have just packaged Tiamat and Beast Nero together and taken them home to prepare for overthrowing the Human Order!
.....
『 When Fujimaru Ritsuka returned to Chaldea, the staff quickly gathered around her in deep concern.
Fujimaru Ritsuka recounted her journey to everyone—the Contractor of the Beast, Tiamat, walking alongside the Evil of Humanity, and so on.
By the time Fujimaru Ritsuka finished speaking, everyone felt dizzy.
Kadoc looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka, who was casually talking about being a Contractor of a Beast, and felt his brain overloading. He simply couldn't comprehend what she was saying.
Is this a joke?!!
A Master who contracted a Beast?! Why don't you just rule the Human Order and take control of the Earth directly?!
He really needed to get some proper rest. Otherwise, one day, if he couldn't take the shock, he might just pass away on the spot! 』
『 .....』
『 Viewers of Myriad Worlds 』
This world had also come to an end. A sense of melancholy welled up in everyone's hearts, but before they could begin to lament, the screen changed once again.
.....
[ TYPE-MOON EASTER EGG—THE ONE WHO ATTAINED ENLIGHTENMENT, SAVER! ]
『 With long green hair, deep and bright eyes, and a body shining with a brilliant golden light, the Buddha folded his hands.
"If this is the path for humanity to attain enlightenment and reach the ultimate truth, then I, as the ultimate living being, shall hold the blade to guide them."
"All that lives must perish; all living beings suffer in the cycle of reincarnation. With a powerful will, one carves out the path of enlightenment, with the divine residing in one's heart."
Saver—Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha who attained enlightenment.
The sole solver on Earth who has escaped the suffering of birth and reincarnation, the one who has attained the true meaning of life, the only enlightened Savior among humanity, the first to reach the end!
The concepts of nothingness, emptiness, and zero all originate from Buddhism.
Of the Savior class, Saver's Noble Phantasm is Amita Amitabha⦍Transmigration into One⦎, whose great wheel portion functions as a pruning mechanism for the Tree of Selection!
It can prune parallel worlds according to the user's instructions.
This meant that Saver could actively prune worlds—even the correct pan-human history! 』
『 .....』
〜A Certain Magical Index World〜
A scantily clad girl, looking like she had a severe case of chuunibyou, couldn't help but frown.
Othinus's eyes were filled with astonishment.
A Saver… if placed in this world, he would probably belong to the Buddhist category, right?
But he was still within the category of Heroic Spirits?
Pruning the world… How could a Saver possibly possess such power within the framework of a Heroic Spirit? Was it due to faith or something else?
Could it be that the status of Buddhism in that world was incredibly high?
Are the three thousand worlds all filled with Buddhas?
.....
『 Viewers of Myriad Worlds 』
Holy crap…
Everyone was dumbfounded. Was this Savior really that overpowered? When they first saw about "the solver," "the one who attained the true meaning of life," "the enlightened Savior," and "the first to reach the end," they didn't feel much.
But when it was revealed that Saver could actively prune parallel worlds, everyone was completely stunned. Previously, they had wondered who on earth decided whether a Lostbelt was correct or incorrect.
So it turned out to be Saver?!
And Saver could even prune the correct Pan-Human History?!
.....
( Translator-kun: This is one of my Favorite FGO collabs )