Chương 16: Gil-kun and Compassion
Vimana stopped and suddenly landed with a graceful crash into an enormous glacier.
"So, how was it to travel like a king, mongrels?"
"I need a sickbag..."
"*agrees in penguinese*"
"It was awesome! Why didn't we always use this?"
"I'm really glad we didn't until now..."
"Well, behold, mongrels! We have reached the cold!"
"Brrr, you can say that. Wait, does it work like this..."
Nero touched her dress and it quickly morphed into a winter jacket.
"Wow, so it really does adapt to what I want in that moment! This fabric is incredible!"
"Thank God..." Salter said as she was all of a sudden wearing multiple layers of fur coats.
"Aren't you supposed to be used to the cold, Salty? Having been... you know... ruler of England?"
"Did you forget... you know... alternate timeline?"
"Wait, so in your timeline, Britain is..."
"Very warm and sunny, yes. Ever heard of the hit TV series 'Always Sunny in Liverpool'?"
"Not really..."
"Figured."
"So, what do you say, Mr. Pop Pea? You like this, don't you?"
Mr. Pop Pea began running around joyfully, sliding on the ice, singing songs of happiness and doing other things penguins usually do.
"Wow, this place really is like one of the Poles... it's like a videogame! There's the desert area, the grass area, the cold area... there's even giant creatures! It's a bit like... I guess it was called... Belliver's Adventures!"
"You mean Gulliver's Travels by Thomas Hobbes?"
"Yeah! Exactly!"
"What a fun man... unlike that other bore... ah, yes, Jonathan Swift, he could never write such a masterpiece in satire."
"Stop chatting about nonsense, mongrels! See for yourselves: over there, in the distance there appears to be a colony of beasts from the same species as that one."
"Really? There? Ah yes! Look, Mr. Pop Pea, we found your friends! Let's go everyone!"
Gilgamesh and Salter followed the running Nero who was holding an excited Mr. Pop Pea in her arms. They finally reached the group of penguins, who initially looked bewildered by the sudden appearance of someone from their own kind, but then they started moving, as if to make space for him, and they lowered their heads like in a sort of primordial bow.
Nero let Mr. Pop Pea down.
"Well, I guess this is it, Mr. Pop Pea. I'm glad we found you a new home before you overheated. I'm also really happy that you have lots of friends you can make... I hope that I can still be one of your many friends... and that you will remember me... please don't forget... to eat a lot of fish... for me... and to be happy... as you were... if not more... than when you... were... with me... and maybe... you can try... to not... forget... me... at least in the near... future... ok?"
Nero tried to say as tears flowed down her face like raging rivers as she held Mr. Pop Pea closely.
"I'm... going to let go now... Mr. Pop Pea... goodbye... I hope I see you again... and if I don't... even if you forget me... I will... remember you... for as long as I live... as my friend..."
Nero slowly undid her embrace. Mr. Pop Pea stood there for a moment, staring at her. Then he gently rubbed his beak against her face, as if he was caressing her, as Nero couldn't help but sob and cry.
"Go now... be happy... goodbye... goodbye... Mr. Pop Pea... goodbye..."
She kept repeating on her knees as Mr. Pop Pea slowly began making his way towards the other penguins.
"Salter, pick that crybaby up and let's go... I don't wish to stay in this frozen inferno any longer."
"Roger that, I'm freezing."
She picked up Nero and started carrying her away, but not before waving with her hand goodbye to their companion. Mr. Pop Pea cried out something in penguinese, and all penguins soon sang that same melody. And although none of the three great Heroic Spirits knew penguinese, they all knew what that noise meant.
Goodbye.
They arrived back to the village, where life had started once more. Everyone was pretty lively and in high spirits, deeply contrasting the current mood of the party.
They had lunch at the diner, during which Gilgamesh and Salter eventually got tired of Nero's sobbing, leaving Nancy to console her. They ate their food, and what was strange was that with each bite of her burger, instead of her gluttony or her happiness increasing, it seemed like Salter got gloomier and gloomier.
"Hey, Galter. Are we going to leave this place today?"
"There's nothing that keeps us bounded here. It wouldn't make any sense to stay any longer. Furthermore, if the person they described really is Saber, then we are wasting time with each minute we spend here."
"Wasting time... you really have no..."
"What?"
"Nevermind. I didn't expect you to be like this."
"Did you have expectations on how I would behave?"
"No... not really... forget it..."
She said, lowering her head and keeping to herself.
Finally, the moment arrived for the heroes to leave the village.
Everyone was there with the Lancer Squad and Nancy leading them.
"We'll forever be in your debt for what you have done for us. If you will ever be in trouble, we won't hesitate to come and help you."
"Hmph, as if I would ever require the help of mongrels like you. Just take good care of my servant."
"Thank you, you three, words can't describe how glad I am to have met you. You'll always hold a special place in my heart. And if you ever wish to see me again, you know where to find me, hehe. Now let me greet you one by one."
Nancy hugged Nero first, who had hardly ever stopped crying.
"First Mr. Pop Pea and now you, Nancy... it's not fair... not... fair..."
"Someone as radiant as you should never stop smiling, Miss Nero... you bring happy energy wherever you go."
Nancy then kneeled elegantly in front of Gilgamesh.
"Thank you for changing idea about me, Your Majesty, even though what I prepare is not really of your liking."
"You can stand up, little girl. Though what you prepare is something I often dislike, I must admit that when prepared like you, even trash like that sounds palatable enough."
Gilgamesh said as he extended his arm and gently patted her head once.
"Make sure to show everyone the glory and the splendor of your king."
"I'll do my best, Your Majesty!"
Nancy moved to Salter, who was almost dodging her eyes.
"Your Highness..."
"Hey... ehm... take care... I'll see you around... I guess..."
"... hehe, yes, we'll see each other around... hey, Your Highness?"
"Hm?"
"I'll miss you."
"Yeah... ok... don't do it too much..."
"There's something I want to give you."
"What is it now?"
Nancy pushed forward her arms, showing what she was holding in her hands: a warm, wrapped hamburger.
Salter started blankly at it, then looked Nancy in the eyes, her mouth slightly open, then she gritted her teeth, squinted her face, her eyes started closing and tearing up, she hugged Nancy and let out a small cry as she sniffled and sobbed no matter how much she tried hiding it.
"I don't want to leave you..."
"I'm sure you'll be able to find whoever you're looking for, Your Highness."
Salter turned her head slightly, kissed Nancy's head and then whispered something in her ear.
The young girl's eyes widened a bit and she started giggling.
"Seriously, Your Highness? That is who you're searching?"
Salter nodded.
"Well, that's unexpected to say the least... but still, I'm sure you'll be able to accomplish whatever you want... because you are strong, Your Highness."
"Artoria. You can call me Artoria, Nancy."
"Then good luck, Artoria. Take care."
They held hands together, both looking at the burger as Artoria slowly took it and brought it to her chest.
"I won't eat this. I'll keep it as a memory."
"Please don't torture yourself. Eat it, it will make me super happy."
"Then I'll keep this wrapping forever."
"There's no need for physical reminders of our encounter, as long as you remember me in your heart, that is what counts."
"I'll never forget a sweet, gentle girl like you."
"And I'll never forgive a majestic and powerful woman like you."
They hugged again, with Salter now crying more quietly.
"Please look after Your Majesty and Miss Nero. They tend to get into a bit of trouble."
"Of course. Remember to look after these four morons... and yourself."
"I certainly will."
"Goodbye, Nancy."
"See you soon, Artoria."
Their hands slowly disconnected until they were both just touching the air around them, as Salter started walking away, often turning around and waving goodbye, as the entire village bid farewell to those who had saved them.
Gilgamesh summoned Vimana again, this time with a larger and wider seat, big enough for the three of them to seat down.
"Go slowly, Galter."
"..."
Vimana started flying away, as the village kept getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared.
After nearly half an hour of flight, the situation wasn't much more joyous than before: Nero was still sobbing uncontrollably and Salter was facing the other side, hiding her face, and it was unsure whether she was crying or not. Gilgamesh just stared forward with an annoyed expression.
"This is ridiculous... they are bawling their eyes out for such a stupid reason... a beast and a girl they met a couple of days ago... pathetic... why did I even bother bringing them with me..."
He kept thinking this repeatedly as his thoughts travelled freely without really giving him any insight. He thought and thought a lot of times this phrase, until he remembered a similar sentence.
Something that someone else had told him...
A long time ago...
He was sitting on a golden chair, staring absently past the fire that was present in that luxurious room. He felt something more heavy that he had ever experienced before weighing him down with more force than an entire ocean. He sighed.
"What's the matter, gloomy king? This is pretty ridiculous... you're going to bawl your eyes out for such a stupid reason..."
"Fool, who told you you could stand and walk?"
"Am I no longer allowed to stand and walk?"
"Not when your body is crumbling apart."
"Come on, don't be so dramatic, I'm just losing some of my pieces, no big deal."
"..."
"Again with that expression? I can already tell that someone in the future is going to write a comedy about this: the great King Gilgamesh, famed hero, crying and hugging a bunch of sand, begging a piece of earth, imploring some random stones. And the crowd would fall from their seats in laughted, haha *cough* *cough* *cough* See? I might die of laughter myself!"
"What are you trying to do, idiot?"
"I'm just trying to make you see the truth, Gil. I was never your equal. Despite learning from Shamat, I was never capable of achieving true humanity. I was merely a servant of nature, a piece of earth with some sort of conscience. I never had drive, desires or ambitions of my own. That is why, no matter how hard I tried, I could never defeat you. I lacked what you possess more than anyone else: human determination."
"Stop spouting nonsense, moron! Is this an attempt to help me?! Are you trying to console me?! Me?!"
"Well, aren't you happy? You always told me to behave more like a human, no? I told you about not having any determination, outside of proving myself your equal. However, there was also something else that I never understood and that I think is unique and part of what makes humans so special."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about having mercy on the suffering of others, sharing their pain, trying to alleviate it. Tell me, King of Man:
What is more human than compassion?"
"You shouldn't cry, both of you."
There was suddenly silence on the airship.
"Those that we left behind... they are still alive. They are happy. Fulfilled. There comes a time for anyone to feel satisfaction. This was their moment. It would have been selfish and unfair for us to deny them this privilege. We are on a journey to reach our own satisfaction, so that we can achieve happiness and serenity. And if you feel like you need to see those that we left behind again to feel such emotions, then that is what we shall do at due time. For as many times as it takes for you to feel like you're finally fulfilled."
The silence endured.
"So fear not the disappearance of our companions, and don't mourn them while their hearts are still beating. Be joyous of the bond and the memories you formed with them and be ready for the next time you shall meet time. For we are Heroic Spirits, examples of humanity being capable of shaping its own destiny and of deciding its own fate. Therefore, if our wish is to meet again with our dear ones, then nothing will be capable of stopping us. Because we are heroes. Because we are human."
Gilgamesh slowly lifted his arms and reached for the blonde hair of his two companions. He gently passed his fingers on their heads in a slow and tender gesture, like he had done to his friend the day before he returned to being a handful of clay.
He looked at them after a couple of minutes. Nero had stopped crying and had now a slightly more relaxed expression.
"Thank you, Goldie."
Salter was now sitting straight, staring in front of her, her eyes no longer wet. She took out Nancy's burger from its wrapping and was about to take the first bite, but she stopped suddenly.
She divided the hamburger into three parts and offered it to the others.
"Would you like some?"
"Yes, thank you, Salty."
"I appreciate it, Salter."
"King of Heroes..."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"... there's no need. I'm the King of Man. My determination is unmatched. And so is my mercy. After all...
there's nothing more human than compassion."
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Happydugongo
Happydugongo What's sadder: Nero crying because no penguins or Salter crying because no burgers? Or Gil crying because no clay?
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