Chapter 268: Chapter 25. The Future She Gazes Upon
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She dreamt of…
A petite young girl who, without hesitation, drew the sword from the stone and took on all the responsibilities.
From that day forward, she walked a path of no return. She had gone too far ahead, unwilling to look back and reveal any weakness. She became a guidepost, but not one that could last forever. Everyone… couldn't see her expression.
The only one who could lead people forward had to be human, but also could not be human.
Because he was human, everyone followed him without suspicion. Because of his immense kindness, his supreme purity, almost seeming inhuman, people trusted him.
She didn't achieve that...
In that era, she couldn't afford to be kind. She was the king, and she carried far too much. Whether it was being doubted by her subordinates or feared by the people, she still had to stand at the very front.
It was just too much…
Gray stared blankly at the girl holding the holy sword, gazing at the sky. Was she standing over her companions or her enemies? Gray didn't know. Maybe that girl could no longer tell either.
[Maybe that day, if I hadn't pulled the sword, I might have had a happy ending.]
The girl, still gazing at the sky, turned her head and looked at Gray.
[But if I hadn't done it, others who could have been happy would lose that chance. So… I had to do it.]
"That's… so unfair…" Gray clenched her fists. "You live on this earth just like everyone else. You deserve happiness too."
The girl was momentarily stunned and then gave a helpless smile.
[There always has to be someone to bear the burden of the country's responsibilities. Since I already knew, how could I turn a blind eye? This is… what it means to be king.]
The dream began to crack, and the girl's figure started to blur.
"Wait! What must happen for you to be redeemed?" Gray, unwilling to give up, rushed toward the girl.
The girl gently shook her head.
[I never fought for my own redemption.]
"Wai..." Gray opened her eyes and reached out toward the ceiling.
Even in the end, she couldn't touch the girl's hand. That girl stood there, always alone, gazing up at the sky.
People had never thought about what that petite girl was truly facing. They couldn't see her helplessness, her frustration. They only ever saw the mighty side of their king. To keep her subjects from worrying, she bore everything with her own body. The only thing she got in return was the phrase: [The king does not understand the hearts of people.]
But did you really understand her?
"Did you have a nightmare?" Cyd, sitting by the bedside, reached out and held Gray's hand.
"No, it's just... I feel a little… unwilling," Gray sat up, her long grey hair falling softly around her.
"Seriously, you were the one who won," Cyd pulled out the Saber Class Card from under Gray's pillow.
That's why she had that frustrating dream…
As a shrine maiden with a heightened sensitivity to spirits, Gray had an unusual connection to spiritual entities. Coupled with the subtle relationship she had with the heroic spirit engraved on the Class Card…
"Wait! What time is it!" Gray's eyes widened.
"What time?" Cyd stood up and pulled open the curtains.
The bright sunlight made Gray instinctively raise her hand to shield her face.
"It's about time for lunch," Cyd opened the window and squinted against the breeze.
Lunch? What about breakfast?
Gray tilted her head.
That slacker of a master...
With a bang, Gray jumped up, hastily grabbing a nearby cloak and rushing out of the room.
"She looks full of energy again, so she's fine," Cyd fiddled with the Saber Class Card in his hand.
The heroic spirits engraved on the Class Cards weren't just sources of power; they had their own wills, though they didn't always manifest. Seeing how close Gray had come to tears, Cyd figured she had seen that figure in her dream.
"The expectations of the people caused Gray's past. While it might not be directly related to the one who's already passed, still…" Cyd slipped the Saber Class Card into his pocket, "If it were you, you wouldn't ignore this, right? Gray is your subject, after all, Noble King."
"Master!!"
Gray angrily burst through El-Melloi II's door.
But she didn't see El-Melloi II buried under a pile of garbage. The room was surprisingly tidy, and the blanket on the bed was folded neatly, like a rolled omelet.
"What is it, Gray?" El-Melloi II poked his head out from the living room, holding a newspaper and wearing his usual robe.
"Master…" Gray stared blankly at the well-groomed El-Melloi II.
"Even if he's a fully grown adult with functioning limbs, anyone would slack off with someone as dependable as you around," Cyd stepped out of Gray's room and gently patted her head.
"Of course!" El-Melloi II coughed awkwardly a few times.
"This smell," Gray sniffed the air, "Cooking? Master, you can cook?!"
"No, I asked our friendly neighbor next door," Cyd shrugged and pulled Gray toward the living room. "He's quite the kind young man. He even brought his own ingredients."
"That's amazing!" Gray exclaimed, her eyes widening at the delicious-looking meal on the table.
"So, I slipped a lottery ticket into their mailbox," Cyd pressed Gray into a chair, picking up a comb to brush her messy hair.
"A lottery? Wait… A lottery ticket!" El-Melloi II's eyes widened, and he jumped up. "How much was it for?"
In the past, buying lottery tickets had been one of his desperate attempts to pay off astronomical debts, though the most he ever won was five dollars, at the cost of cutting back on cigars.
"Emmm… a few hundred million, I think," Cyd paused, then waved it off with a casual smile. "But the drawing hasn't happened yet. It's not guaranteed to win."
"If you bought it, it would definitely win! With your Golden Rule, luck, and all that—ah, wait, you're not a Servant anymore, so you lost that Noble Phantasm," El-Melloi II shook his head regretfully.
"Actually, I still have it. Anyway, Gray, how would you like your hair styled?" Cyd stretched his fingers. "How about twin-tails?"
"Ah… there's no need to trouble yourself. I can do it myself," Gray, finally snapping out of her surprise over the meal, waved her hand awkwardly.
"It's no trouble," Cyd pressed Gray's shoulders, keeping her seated. "Consider it a small reward for you."
"Then… I'd like to return to my previous hairstyle," Gray whispered, "Just like the king…"
El-Melloi II quietly set down his newspaper.
Cyd smiled gently, lifting Gray's hair.
"Not resisting anymore?"
"Mm, because if it's that king," Gray scratched her face in slight embarrassment, "she probably wouldn't want anyone to become like her, because that's exactly why she became a king, right? Everyone may fear her, but at least I… want to face her head-on."
This journey was worth it…
El-Melloi II chuckled and lifted his newspaper, "Gray, it's good to get some sun when there are people around."
"Master… Alright!" Gray's eyes lit up as she nodded energetically.
"A bit of sun can make you stronger," Cyd waved his left hand.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone