บท 55: Chapter 28.2 - The Garden and The Sun [2]
At what point did I stop being horrified at the sight of corpses, I wonder?
I can remember the terror I felt as I walked through that mud-soaked Fuyuki, pushing past the rising flames as I searched for signs of life. I remember the creeping feeling as I stepped over the mangled corpses of people I'd once lived alongside with.
That feeling is gone now. When the number of casualties Fuyuki had was mentioned, Shirou had paled at the realisation, but I felt nothing.
When did I start to change?
The 'me' of the past life is slowly fading. My already fragile memory of that faceless businesswoman I once was is breaking.
Nothing is eternal, and everything will slowly change. I'll lose something and gain something else. My thoughts and feelings will change, and my memories will dull as their importance shrinks.
When I look into the mirror years from now, would it still be me?
...In the end, it doesn't really matter.
"Not bad, Hanami."
"...Gilgamesh?"
When did she wake up? And when did she get so close?
"To have cleaned this domain so thoroughly." She stops right before me, close enough to feel her breath on my cheek. "I should reward you."
"G-Gil…?" I feel my ears heat up at the closeness.
She smiles. "I feel quite lively." She looks up at the sky, through the still open hole they'd created through the mountain upon their fall. "I suppose I'm simply happy to be back in my time, even in a distortion such as this."
"Ah…" That makes sense. Servants feel stronger inside their own domains, and the entirety of Mesopotamia belongs to her.
Still, I can feel myself growing weak with how close she is, and Gil is clearly enjoying it, her eyes growing more and more predatory. "What's wrong, Hanami?" She places a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Are you exhausted from your battle? Do you need rest?"
With a sharp smile, she weaves a hand through my hair. "Do you need to be carried?"
I whimper softly.
Her smile softens with worry. "I truly mean so. Are you not tired, Hanami? You'd carried us through the voids. Such a monumental is not to be taken lightly."
Ah, so that's what she's worried about.
I actually am tired. I'd stayed awake through the entire trip, and the adrenaline I had earlier is gone. "...Mm." I hum, letting myself be caught by Gilgamesh as I let the slowly warming air and Gilgamesh's soft heartbeat lull me to a sleep.
~~~
Tsunaka Hanami is made of contradictions. For how selfless she is, she is just as selfish, adventuring and fighting to satiate her own wanderlust. For how kind she can be, she is just as ruthless.
Gilgamesh doesn't fault the girl. With how many times she's placed her soul on the line, such a thing isn't out of the ordinary.
Most of all, the girl is a fool.
But as she lays the sleeping girl atop the bed, she can't help but smile.
Because, after all, are fools not the one to push against what is established?
[I agree!]
"That also includes you." She says, and the bodiless voice giggles.
[Mm. I guess so.] It says airily. [I mean, I shouldn't even be here, but, well, yeah.]
Gilgamesh huffs. She looks down to Hanami, watching the girl's chest rise and fall, and she closes her eyes. "Why do you not talk to her?" She decides to ask. "For how she is, Hanami gets lonely on her ventures. I believe she wouldn't mind having you as a partner as she goes about her day."
[...Do I really need to say, King of Heroes?]
"No. You do not." She frowns. "But is this truly necessary?"
[Hanami has already been exposed. If I interact with her anymore than I already do, she might find her, and...well, I don't know what'll happen.]
The voice goes silent after those words, and Gilgamesh is left to ponder on her lonesome, thinking of when this uncertain future she saw in her mind's eye would finally come crashing down.
~~~
"Eh? Is this fine?" I look down at the sleek sword in my hands, watching the clean reflection its blade gives off even in this dark cavern. "I mean, isn't this something you like to use?"
"It is." Gilgamesh nods. "But it is fine. Perhaps consider it a challenge."
I look down at the sword again.
[The Peerless Sword: Durandal -Prototype-]
Rank A-
A prototype of a holy sword granted to the late King Charlemagne by an angel. Its power is that of a vow, to once and always represent strength and the unbending bravery. Inside it resides three miracles, all to maintain the eternal sharpness and durability of this Noble Phantasm. Not even Charlemagne himself was able to shatter the blade when he feared it would fall to the wrong hands.
This is a prototype however. Virtually the same, but insurmountably different in structure.
-Requires 200 Strength and 115 Dexterity to wield-
+100 Strength and Dexterity when wielded
+75 Luck when wielded
When the wielder has enough MP, any swing made with this Noble Phantasm will be forcibly empowered to [Rank A]. If the natural attack already exceeds [Rank A], then this effect is nullified.
This sword cannot be broken by any means. (Barring a few extraordinary exceptions)
When the wielder has enough MP, any magical constructs that are struck with this Noble Phantasm will be forcibly shut down.
-Because of this Noble Phantasm's ability, this weapon has no durability-
I look back at the woman. "A challenge?"
"Indeed. Until you've managed to create a weapon of similar power, you will hold onto it. Perhaps I'll even give you something for your efforts." Ah, so that's what she means. Okay, got it.
...Wait, how am I supposed to do that though!? I managed to create [Alsa'Mal'Sara] because I was lucky and had the materials!
Oh, well, maybe I'll get lucky again and get something special to make this elusive weapon for the challenge. Hmm…
I mean, that 232 Luck of mine should probably be able to do something, right?
[Quest: A Request from a King]
Gilgamesh has issued a challenge for you. Recreate a weapon of similar strength to the Prototype Durandal she has handed you, and she will reward you.
Are you up to the challenge, [Gamer]?
Mission: Create a weapon of similar strength to Prototype Durandal.
Reward: ?, [Ectoplasm] x60
Extra Mission: Create a weapon of higher strength compared to Prototype Durandal.
Extra Reward: ?
Failure: Disappointment, from both Gilgamesh and yourself.
[Yes/No]
"So, what do you say?"
"...Yeah, sure." I say, and Gilgamesh smiles. It's not like I have anything against doing something like this. It'll help build by stagnating [Blacksmithing] skill, it'll add another weapon to my repertoire, and even if I fail, I'll just be getting disappointment. Then again, disappointment from Gilgamesh might as well mean death.
[The quest [A Request from a King] has been accepted!]
...Nice. So accepting a quest has a different notification now.
Anyway, back to the task at hand.
After I woke up, I was planning on exploring the area, but Gilgamesh advised me otherwise, saying that she could feel several people observing them from a distance. It took me some searching, but as she said, I could see two different people using my mystic eyes, watching just out of normal visual range.
And of course, both are servants.
One is the famous general Tomoe Gozen.
The other is the Oni commander Ibaraki-Douji.
Both incredibly strong, if just slightly weaker than Amakusa had been, and both an extreme threat that she'll most likely have to face.
But I won't worry. I can't. Because if I do, then that'll be the prelude to my demise. Worrying for 'what ifs' will only stress me out.
So instead of heading out, I stayed, creating an [Empty ID] to mask our presence while Gilgamesh let loose these awesome golden disks that can defend with powerful bursts of lightning, reacting to an incoming attack only mere microseconds after being detected.
They're really cool, and would probably synergize with [Voltaic Charge] real well.
Hmm, I should try and create something similar.
That aside, when exploring the outside world became forbidden, my next plan of action was to go and grind some Exp back at [Yuriele], but Gilgamesh had stopped that too. She said that we'd spent a tad too long in that area, and she wasn't sure what would even happen if she even activated her skills and went to [Yuriele] with prying eyes watching them.
Which was an understandable concern. Didn't mean she felt good about it.
My next plan was just to make an [Empty ID] and test out some new skill combinations, but then I remembered that I didn't know what opening an ID would do in this Singularity, so that idea was swiftly scrapped as well.
It left me in a bit of a rut actually, before I just decided to spend my time making something in my [Soul Forge] since it's not considered an [ID].
I think the best example would be to see it as an internalized [Reality Marble], though that example doesn't quite hold up either.
Anyways, the moment I thought that, Gilgamesh had thrown the [Prototype Durandal] at me.
It's kinda scary actually. Not sure if she used her clairvoyance to find that out or just noticed my expression, but it's still pretty dang scary.
So here I am now, standing inside the [Soul Forge] without much of a plan on what to do. I could try and start forging something to surpass the [Prototype Durandal], but I don't have any of the good materials on me, and if I wanted to get more, then I'd need to go to [Yuriele], which is forbidden.
Leaving only the materials I can get from the [Item Shop], which honestly doesn't match up against the items sold by the [Obelisk].
It's a bit sad actually.
Maybe there's a way to improve the stuff sold on the [Shop]? I mean, I somehow managed last time, upgrading the materials sold from just being [Rank C+] to [Rank B], but I have no idea how to improve it further.
...I guess I might as well make some stuff for Shirou and I to wear. Don't have a reason to not do it.
The issue comes with what vanity set I should give Shirou.
I'm not much of a fashionista; my sense of fashion's as good as none. Like, when I was creating [Colcadeen], the only picture I had in mind was some sort of sharp fantasy librarian's suit, and it somehow turned out alright.
I tried making a random shirt once. It didn't turn out well.
What to do...
But then I remembered that I'm with Gilgamesh, and she'll probably have a better eye for this kind of thing than I do.
...Wait, is it even possible to bring someone else into the [Soul Forge]?
~~~
The answer is yes.
The result is a mixed bag though. On one hand, Gilgamesh has an extremely good eye for fashion and beauty, which isn't all that surprising considering what kind of person she is.
On the other hand, the king is a cruel, cruel mistress. The woman is a slave-driver I tell you! From the moment Gilgamesh entered, she saddled me with request after request, anchoring me to my seat as I tirelessly worked on the various sets of items I created using [Magical Weaving].
And of course, the [Gamer System] is having fun at my expense by continually attaching quests based on Gilgamesh's requests that I can't even deny!
Hah...At least I've got several wonderful pieces of clothing for me and Shirou to wear.
...And several not-so-friendly sets that would embarrass me to hell if I'm forced to wear them. Which, seeing as Gilgamesh was the one who requested them, I would probably have to wear some time in the future.
Ugh.
Overall, the whole thing was a fun, if rather back-breaking experience.
It's been several hours since then, and it's now night. Gilgamesh's idly gaming on her bed, occasionally twisting and turning to make herself comfortable. Gorgon still remains unconscious, though she is healing.
And I've been sitting atop the mountain Gorgon's lair is situated inside of, silently gazing at the starry night sky above. The two stalkers we had are long gone now, though I'm not too sure when they left. Probably got bored some time after I brought Gilgamesh into the [Soul Forge].
I sigh silently, letting out a puff of air into the cold nightly air.
Hmm, I wonder what Shirou's doing right now?
I can just use my mystic eyes to find out of course, but I'll refrain from doing that. Not only is it a breach of respect, it's probably going to murder my eyes even further. Even now, hours after that burst of pain I received in my battle against Gorgon, the aching still remains, an unseen pounding coming from the inside of my skull.
It isn't anything too worrying. It's actually kinda like when you finally look away after staring at a computer screen for too long.
But, well, it'll get better soon. I'll just need to refrain from using it too much.
That all aside however,
"Hah…" There's never a moment of rest in this new life of mine, is there? From my...less than graceful first encounter with Shirou, all the way until now, in a singularity and embroiled in another tug of war for humanity's survival.
I kind of miss my old, boring life now. Not that I want to ever return to it, but I guess that old predictability and tranquility of a simple everyday life is just gone, huh?
Not that I remember too much of it anymore.
With those thoughts silently swimming in my mind, I watch as the stars slowly spin in the sky.
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