Gilgamesh's name was famous even among Heroic Spirits.
The first epic. Wasn't she its protagonist?
She lacked nothing, be it in status or in power.
Strong against gods, strong against yokai, strong against humans.
Gilgamesh, who could completely overwhelm her opponents with her infinite treasures, was one of the overwhelmingly powerful.
“Your head is high, mongrel.”
“If you're trying to break my spirit, you've got the wrong number. Did you think a threat of that level would make me tremble in fear?”
But Tamamo was not afraid at all.
Gilgamesh? She's certainly impressive. I'll admit that.
But if you ask if her magical prowess is outstanding... well?
Gilgamesh's talent was so outstanding that she couldn't focus on fields like magecraft, which require long, dedicated study.
She was good at whatever she did, so what was the need to lock herself away in a study and research?
She should be playing in that time.
Any annoying enemies could simply be swept away with her treasures.
Gilgamesh's magical prowess was clearly inferior to Tamamo-no-Mae's.
“It seems you don't know that a woman draped in luxury brands is less attractive. On your own, you can barely follow at my heels. Fufu.”
“What does that matter? My treasures are my power as well. A mere fox yokai cannot hope to catch up. It is a far greater honor to serve me than to serve you.”
“Ah, yes. I see. But what can you do? Father probably isn't even considering you.”
Tamamo relentlessly provoked Gilgamesh.
What was even more infuriating was that she couldn't refute her words.
Her pure magical skill was inferior to Tamamo's. Because her younger self had never practiced such things.
It was also true that he was not considering her.
A Heroic Spirit who is rejected by the summoner cannot be summoned.
Unless the Holy Grail has gone haywire.
Even if it had, it would be difficult.
“Hmph. I gave him a name. Have you done anything but cling to him? I shall grant you the special privilege of working as a scullery maid. Do not interfere with me any further.”
“A scullery maid? I don't feel like listening to a loser heroine who was hated for casting curses. Why don't you just watch me and Father live happily ever after, you loser... ahem!”
“You perverted yokai!”
Good. Fight more. The Heroic Spirits cheered the two on.
Watching a fight is fun, regardless of the era.
As the gazes of the Heroic Spirits were focused on the two.
In a corner of the Throne, there was a model student diligently preparing for her exams.
“I'm not sure why I, who am not a Heroic Spirit of Human History, have been registered on the Throne, but I would be really happy if I were summoned.”
A dark horse that no one had expected.
The renowned magi turned their attention to her.
A fairy, a walking mystery.
The skill to freely handle water magecraft, which is of the highest difficulty.
A self-developed magus implement called a Water Mirror.
Her compatibility was also, needless to say, perfect.
In a manner of speaking, she was an international student.
A sharp-eyed Heroic Spirit noticed that she was not confined to the realm of magecraft.
It could also be seen that she had a higher level of insight than Tamamo-no-Mae.
But it seemed interesting, so they just let it be.
One might think they were truly ill-natured Heroic Spirits.
But Heroic Spirits with Clairvoyance or special eyes are always a pain.
They are addicts who live for dopamine.
“Move aside. Father has already completed the magic circle. I want to show him my prettiest side.”
“Hmph. A pumpkin is a pumpkin, even if you draw lines on it. The wish-granting device will surely reject you upon seeing your wickedness. Your dream is grand, but give it up.”
“I suppose you're so good at giving up that you gave up on Father and your friend, too. Hoho. Oh my, a slip of the tongue.”
The words "You fiend" were heard throughout the Throne of Heroes.
At the breathtaking war of nerves between Tamamo-no-Mae and Gilgamesh, the Heroic Spirits munched on popcorn.
Of course, popcorn does not exist in the Throne of Heroes.
In their literally spirit state, they couldn't even exchange blows.
All they could do was run their mouths.
Tamamo-no-Mae, with her wit honed in the imperial court, tore Gilgamesh's soul to shreds.
But Tamamo was worried about Gilgamesh.
After all, her power surpassed Tamamo's.
If one were to consider not just magical prowess but their overall capabilities, it was possible that Gilgamesh, not Tamamo, would be chosen by him.
The calm before the storm.
Finally, he began the summoning.
“Get out of the way. You'll bring bad luck.”
“I am omnipotent and omniscient. Not choosing me is no different from choosing to lose the war.”
Finally, the Heroic Spirits' active appeal time began.
“Father! It is your precious daughter! Please look upon me with favor!”
“Choose me! I will grant you all the riches of the world! The Holy Grail? It is not something I cannot take out from my treasury!”
“[♚♚Immediate Registration to the Throne of Heroes♚♚All Registrants Receive a Noble Phantasm☜☜100% Guaranteed※ ♜Victory in the Holy Grail War♜Free Weapon Giveaway￥]”
“Spam out!”
The sky of the Throne of Heroes opens. A single ray of light begins to shine down.
Like a spotlight shining on the star of the stage, it approached Tamamo and Gilgamesh.
Thump, thump. Their pounding hearts could not be contained.
Even the self-confident Tamamo and Gilgamesh waited for the light with trembling hearts.
“It is I.”
“It is me.”
The light slowly shone on both of their heads at the same time...
And then passed right by.
“...What?”
“Ha?”
Where was that ray of light going?
The attention of all the Heroic Spirits was drawn to it.
The two most likely candidates had been eliminated.
The summoning ceremony had fallen into an unprecedented labyrinth. Who would be its star?
Finally, the light shone on a single Heroic Spirit.
The international student who had confidently seized the title of world number one, beating out the number one from Japan and the number one from Mesopotamia.
The fairy of paradise, Tonelico, smiled awkwardly.
“Ehehe….”
Tamamo and Gilgamesh were enraged.
“That's cheating! You're not even a Heroic Spirit of Human History, how did you get in here?”
“Eiiiit! A fairy? When what is engraved on his soul is a fury towards fairies!”
But what could they do by getting angry?
It was already decided. Tonelico had answered his call.
As she slowly flew high into the sky, Tonelico wiped the innocent smile from her face.
And she sneered at the ones who were not chosen.
Tamamo shrieked and thrashed about.
“That… that harlot! To shamelessly come back after ruining Father!”
She denigrated Tonelico with groundless fabrications and lies.
In contrast, Gilgamesh became calm.
“The Holy Grail must have malfunctioned. As its arbiter, I have no choice but to destroy it.”
Perhaps her reason had been blown away by her anger.
Tonelico was summoned faster than the Grail's guidance could reach her,
“Yes! I did it!”
And the Beast and the Fairy succeeded in their reunion.
As soon as she was summoned by Tokiomi, Gilgamesh activated her Clairvoyance.
It was not to foresee the future. Such an act would be a misjudgment that would erase the pleasure of the amusement to come.
What she saw was the entirety of Fuyuki City.
Where indeed had that insolent fairy hidden?
But no matter how she looked, she could see no trace of not only the fairy, but of the Beast either.
It was such a perfect concealment spell that she could not see through it even with her Clairvoyance.
“Such a pathetic trick….”
“...!”
Her words were directed at Tonelico, but Tokiomi, who had been internally debating whether to use a Command Spell, flinched.
“You are called Tokiomi. The reason I answered your call is not because of such a pathetic shell. Do not forget that it is because I have business in this era.”
“You mean to say I should know my place. I will bear it in mind.”
Gilgamesh did not dislike Tokiomi.
He was, after all, a fellow who knew to bow his head on his own.
Isn't it better to just stay quiet? Tokiomi's response was good.
But the best choice does not always produce the best results.
“I shall survey the present world. Do not trouble me.”
“What? …King Gilgamesh!”
Tokiomi called out to her, but she was already far gone.
The connection of magical energy was so faint that he could not even properly track her location.
It was because Gilgamesh had intentionally weakened the connection.
“...An unexpected variable. At this rate, I may have to revise my plans.”
There was still time until the Holy Grail War. The summoning of the Servants was not yet complete.
Until then, he had to win Gilgamesh's favor.
Having reached this conclusion, Tokiomi prepared ancient tomes and family jewels.
There is no king who dislikes tribute.
He hoped that this small gift would please her.
“You fiend… where have you hidden yourself!”
Meanwhile, Gilgamesh, soaring through the skies above Fuyuki City aboard Vimana,
had long since forgotten about the likes of Tokiomi.
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