Chapter 70. Strive, Survive and Then Find Happiness
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"Ah haha~ It seems our Holy Grail War has come to an end, hasn't it?"
Looking at his gradually translucent body, Astolfo chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
"Umm," Frankenstein puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
Why does it always feel like only she is seriously considering how to achieve her wish?
"It's a shame," Caules said, seeing Frankenstein looking unhappy. He hesitated for a moment before placing his hand on Frankenstein's head. "If only I were stronger."
"Wuwuwu mm-mm!" Frankenstein waved her hands and gestured repeatedly.
"Hmm? Pfft, okay, I get it," Caules said after a moment of stunned silence, breaking into a laugh.
"Wuwu!" Frankenstein, dissatisfied, raised her fist and pounded Caules's chest, but she could not shake off his warm hand resting on her head.
"You really don't know what it means to be discouraged," Celenike sighed. "Now I somewhat understand why I wanted to torment you before. Now I also want to see a discouraged expression on that foolishly smiling face of yours."
"No way~"
Astolfo extended two fingers to tap on Celenike's mouth, gently arranging her into a smile.
"You need to smile, smile more happily than anyone else."
"I'm not like you—strong and optimistic. Such things have nothing to do with me," Celenike said with a black line across her face.
"Charlemagne's Twelve Knights Astolfo is the weakest of them all. Maybe the Astolfo you know can always overcome various disasters, but each adventure is the last for me. So smile, because it might be the last [smile]," Astolfo said, raising his lips to show a radiant smile. "Smile, smile more happily than anyone else. If you show a forced smile, everyone will worry."
"No one will worry about me," Celenike lowered her eyes.
"I will," Astolfo said, leaning closer to Celenike. "Master, if you're not doing well or if you're unhappy, I'll be very sad."
Looking at the cute face before her, Celenike blushed and turned her head away. "I'll give it a try."
"Then start by smiling," Astolfo stepped back a few paces and opened his arms. "Show a smile that can bravely face the future, and as a reward, I'll give you a big hug~"
"Who needs your hug!" Celenike muttered, then closed her eyes. As her eyes slowly opened, her lips gradually curled up into a faint smile, but all she saw were light particles falling around her.
That fool had already hugged her when she closed her eyes, but his weak form could not hold on until she opened her eyes.
"What a fool…"
"Yes," Caules said, watching the light particles slowly drift from his palm with a gentle smile. "Heroic Spirits are truly incredible beings."
Their journey never stopped. No matter where he was, Astolfo would always face everything with a foolish smile, and no matter what, Frankenstein would never stop searching for the warmth that belonged to her.
Fiore smiled softly, lowering her head and gently stroking her legs.
"Yes, under their gaze, I feel much more confident. This is what it means to be a hero."
Even now, Fiore still feels that Chiron is standing beside her, watching her with those eternally gentle eyes. Just thinking about this makes all confusion disappear.
It's about time to make a decision.
"It's really great to have met them."
Under the Hanging Gardens, Darnic cleared the throne that Vlad III had been sitting on. Looking at the somewhat tattered throne, Darnic took a few steps back and knelt on one knee.
In his eyes, this throne is always occupied by that noble man, with those eyes full of oppression but providing immense comfort.
As long as he thinks that the king is always watching over him.
"There is no difficulty in this world that cannot be overcome."
"Just wait a moment, my king. Your wish…" Darnic closed his eyes. "I will fulfill it. I will make the world know that Vlad III is a great king."
"What about Saber?" Sieg stared blankly at the disheveled Gordes before him. "Could it be…"
"Hmm, he's dead," Gordes said, rubbing Sieg's head with his hand. "Why did you come back?"
"Because…" Sieg looked at Gordes with some fear. "I couldn't protect you, but at least I can wait for you here."
"Thank you," Gordes said, bending down to hug Sieg, tears streaming down his face. "Saber… Saber was the strongest."
"Hmm." Sieg patted Gordes on the back.
"He was a hero who achieved the impossible. Even Achilles was no match for him."
"Hmm."
"He protected me, a useless person except for making misguided commands. Sieg, if only I had a stronger master, we would have won instead of ending with such a result. I'm so reluctant, what a genius, but in the end, I could only lie on the ground and cry."
"No, Saber was proud to have you as his master," Sieg said loudly. "He told me, 'You are just a little confused. After dispelling the confusion, you will surely be an outstanding person.' So…"
"Be proud of yourself!"
"You are an excellent person!"
"Don't have any concerns; move forward bravely!"
"I will follow you like Saber did, even if it means stepping into hell."
"Thank you," Gordes held Sieg tightly.
"Is this where you leave it?" Medusa tilted her head. "Can you really move so many people on your own?"
"Who knows~ How can I know without trying," Reika Rikudou rolled up her sleeves and struck a cheering pose.
But clearly, no matter how much she cheered, she wouldn't be able to get so many people home before dawn, including some people Medusa had dragged out from who knows where.
"I'll help you," Medusa shook her head.
"Really? He'll be back soon, right? Is it really okay not to stay by his side?" Reika Rikudou helped a nurse up. "You've waited for a long time, haven't you?"
"Hmm, a very long time," Medusa nodded. "Long enough that this little bit of time is as fleeting as a breath."
"Have you ever thought of giving up?"
"I'm a person without much willpower. He asked me to wait for him, so even if time were eternal, I would wait for him. My sister asked me to find him, so even if I have to search every corner of the world, I will continue. What about you? What do you want to do next?"
"Of course, I want to strive to live on," Reika Rikudou said with a shy smile. "Just as he said, work hard, find a good man, build a happy family, and then wait for Jack, giving her a happy future. If possible, I want to establish an orphanage."
"That's difficult."
"But it's not a reason to give up."
"I can help you."
"Why?"
Reika Rikudou looked at Medusa, who was directing the serpents to move people.
"Because…" Medusa paused and gave Reika Rikudou a gentle smile. "I want to do this."