Part 47: Golden Poem - Orchid Words - Epilogue

Orchid Words: Epilogue


End of a sakura-colored day

How satisfied can I be? I'm starting to feel like I don't need anything else. Cherry blossoms are blooming today in the Millennium Capital, and I think tomorrow will be the same. Our days are breezing by peacefully...

Ohoho. Are you ready, my darling? You should get dressed for bed. What would you like to wear? Or I could pick something for you... Or... You could just go with "nothing"... I mean, that's a choice... I'd say... Don't you think so?



I think both choices will end up the same, but we are the Soul, and we are bold.

Heavens me! Y-You really want to get into the futon n-nude? Y-You're wild...! Gorgeous and savage. Oh, I can hardly endure it...much longer.

Her voice has a strong, decisive tone.

And you know...I'm feeling a bit hot myself... It is a wife's duty to fulfill her darling's needs, after all.

Later that night...



...For some reason, Caster's extra aggressive tonight. Must be that heat. I'm several kinds of hot too, but not "thirsty" hot. More like I need a release. I've been feeling it all day.

...Now that the maid's gone, the cleaning and the bedmaking is up to me. So there'll be no one else to disturb us.

She's right. This place is now a private home for the two of us.

My Husband... No, my dear heart... ...Thank you for the meal. Oh...not that, not that... Well... Uhh... Oh, yes...Please take care of me...

The next...day? Dream? Something like that.


School play

The crows' cries bring in the sunset. The light turns the after-school classroom red. A lone girl is there, as if she's waiting for someone. Who is this girl? Ah, it seems...I don't even need to say it.

She's waiting. Through the old putting-in-a-letter-into-the-shoebox-in-the-morning trick, she's been waiting for "that person" to arrive. Need I say anymore? That person is none other than Hakunon.

...Wh-What? You actually came? Why are you so honest? It's just like last week, yesterday, and even today. Remember when the teacher said that you'd be a delinquent if you ever started going out with me? But...

Even though she says that, that whole thing was my fault. The first day I transferred here, I was late and crashed into her, causing a "Kiara incident" on the school route...Er, rather, we got tangled and fell into an awkward position, where we both felt that strange feeling. No matter how you look at it, it's all my fault. I did the obvious thing and apologized. I followed her around until she forgave me. Kind of over the top, but...

Kiara was the main antagonist of CCC. "Lewd" does not even begin to describe her. Her whole scheme was to turn the Far Side of the Moon into an eternal pleasure palace for her, with all that entails. Let us just say she was filled with god's love, with her being god.

I-I don't care about that right now. Th-That was my fault anyway... I wasn't looking where I was going, and...And our hands ended up on each other's chests, right? N-No, I mean... How do you like this school so far?

I think I'm used to it. But it's all because she kindly gave me the tour.

Well, I didn't do it to be nice. And how are you studies...? Can you make it to the cafeteria on your own now? N-Not that I'm worried about you or anything. It's just, you know, we got caught up in that whole...situation, and... Because...we're...you know? That thing happened... And if that thing happened, there's only marriage left, right? I mean, we might as well be a married couple... I mean, we're going to be married someday, but...you know, I never really... I haven't confessed to you yet.



I've been thinking up romantic scenarios to reenact. Would you like to play one out with me, my Husband?

..Ah, now I see. I'd thought i was looking at a dream of hers, but i guess it's a story she thought of. So she somehow projected that story as a live image. In reality, we're in My Room, and she's here in front of me. Where'd she come up with this idea?

You see, in the newly formed SE.RA.PH, I learned all kinds of things about high school humans. And heavens me, I was inspired, and put my shapeshifting skills to good use. ★ ...What do you think? Stylish, isn't it?



It is an interesting look for her.

Ah, "schoolgirl". That's the word. Now that you mention it... Something about this is making my tail twitch... Suzuka...a fake schoolgirl... Oh, my head... Well, whatever, as long as it's cute! Anything I wear counts as a holy shrine maiden outfit, anyway. Though it is kind of a stretch to have a high school heroine be a shrine maiden to! ...Or what do you think? Would that work?

Anyway! Dearheart! After all our chats, I've felt the winds of change here in My Room. Like a new expression of modern, Tamamo-style art. This image play moves me, and I'd like to enjoy it on a regular basis. You could even call it a club activity. In other words...

Now that we have a break, "Suzuka" is from a manga spin-off of CCC called "Fox tail". It was largely about Tamamo's relationship to Amaterasu, and featured, as you might guess, a lot of characters with fox tails, including the fashionable Suzuka Gozen. Apparently, she is the daughter of the Fourth Heavenly Demon King, and was sent to Japan to turn it into a demonic country. But Suzuka does not care for such silly things, and instead puts on the act of being a stylish high school girl, hence why Tamamo feels awkward about things at the moment.

"With this Command Seal, I totally order you. You're not allowed to say anything more, Schoolgirl Caster!"

And that's the end of THAT. This scene will also, as you might expect, unlock Tamamo's schoolgirl costume for general use.


Relaxation in the Millennium Capital

Ah... Ohoho, I love the way you gaze at me. I'm not dreaming that, am I? Is it all right if we talk? Just for a little while.

Yeah, I can't sleep either. What should we talk about? Oh, yeah. I want to hear more about this Millennium Capital. Why did Caster go with the cherry blossom theme?

Cherry blossoms...? Now that you ask, I don't think I had any special reason. I just wanted this new SE.RA.PH's capital to be different than old Kyoto. There were a few cherry blossoms before, but not this many. One thing led to another, and it looked like this. I suppose this was always my image of the ideal city.

Tamamo no Mae. Caster's true name. She was the legendary fiend who caused trouble in Kyoto during the Heian Period. She was considered one of the three great fiends of Japan. I heard that in the end, humans brought her down and sealed her away. To Caster, Kyoto in the Heian Era wasn't always full of cheer and sunshine. But even so, the Millennium Capital is a beautiful place. (The "Tamamo style art" isn't...widely understood, but it's overlooked as a local quirk.) It goes to show that she remembers the beauty of her life among humans, not just the violence and envy. And that makes me really happy. I'm glad to know there's more to Caster's past than pain.

While I have no idea who the "three great fiends of Japan" are supposed to be (except that Tamamo may count herself in that number), in another world, Tamamo does have online chatroom friends in the tragic maiden Kiyohime and the demon who resides in Himeji Castle, known as Osakabehime.

Edit: the other Great Fiends besides Tamamo are apparently Ushi Gozen and Ibaraki Doji.

Well, you could see it all that way if you like. I can't say if that's right or wrong. Though I'd rather you be right. Honestly, I hav ea hard time judging all that for myself. Maybe I am just a pitiful fiend, driven by spite and jealousy of humans. I couldn't deny that if someone accused me of it.



All in the past.

Ah, yes, you're right... I'm sure there'd be nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't object if we gathered NPCs or lost Servants to fill this place out, but... This place is a capital for you and me. And it will always be, until the Moon and the very last star go out.



I can't say for sure, but apparently some of the NPCs in the Capital were involved in the Holy Grail War. If they are here, the first thing they need to do is come pay their respects to my Husband. But that won't happen. They haven't done that yet, have they?

Yeah, not that I can remember. I especially don't remember anyone telling me, "Yo, long time no see!" I definitely would have introduced them to Caster if they had.

Has the fact that you've won the Holy Grail War, gained the Royal Authority, and become King not gotten through to them? This is a grave situation. Yes, a SUPER-grave one. As the wielder of the Royal Authority, and by your own merit, you saved Earth and SE.RA.PH from no less than the Umbral Star! And you're also the ruler of the Millennium Capital! There is no one higher than you, Hakunon!

...No, um... I want her to hold off for a bit. If she announces it that way, it'll just make me blush. I'd rather keep that whole thing on a need-to-know basis.

No. I can't agree to that at all! Your great deeds should spread your legends all the way to the Earth, but at the very least everyone on SE.RA.PH should know. The new SE.RA.PH is still expanding daily, with uncharted territories all over the place. At this rate, lost Servants and NPCs are going to keep popping up in those territories...and this is unconfirmed, but even people from Earth...and none of them are going to pay you the proper respect.

As long as they don't plan to threaten SE.RA.PH's unification, I'm fine with things the way they are. Royal Authority or not, I don't like the idea of forcing people into line. Maybe I'm an idealist, but when that sort of thing comes up, I...I can't... Caster.

Yes?



It is what's usually on Soul Hakuno's mind.

I get where this is going. And if she wants to get there already, then good, so do I. But let's stop talking already and get on with it.

Wow, I'm impressed! How very primal of you. I'd always thought of you as the more docile type, but here you are, baring your wild side. Oh, darling... And yes, of course, I'm ready whenever you are. When I'm exposed in hot water, I am always, ALWAYS ready for you. So please, do as you like to me, won't you?

You can kinda tell you were supposed to see that scene before the one to open this update, can't you?


The f@TEMASTER

To be percise, I'll take that time to reheat the soup and cooked dishes, but tonight's main course is sashimi. Nothing needs to be roasted, so my time is your time... Let's measure how long we can flirt together. Ohoho, how WILL we fill this time?

Well, there's not quite enough time to run through a battle simulation, and I don't feel like exhausting myself before dinner. So let's just sit and talk like this.



Even with the Umbral Star at bay, I still put up layers of barriers just in case. But an intruder in our love nest?! Ooh, who DARES intrude into the Sovereign of SE.RA.PH's private chambers? Do you know how rude...?



This is a little awkward... Think dinner might have to be postponed.

...I'm here.

Huh? Uh... Um... You are...?

There are...two Casters...or Tamamo no Maes. Huh? What? Wasn't that just Tamamo in a different outfit? Why are there two Tamamos in the same place at the same time?

...Just as I thought. You do know.

She might have noticed me mouthing the name, but the mysterious Tamamo wearing a schoolgirl outfit shoots a look at the other, more surprised Tamamo.

...Hmm. So you're also called Tamamo.

Y-Y-You must be one of the other Tamamo Nine! ...No, just kidding. But how did you get here, and why?

Well, my name also happens to be Tamamo. Hmm, small world. Kind of strange, but, well, you seem all right. Pleasure to meet you, Tamamo.

What's with this "friendly" act? Have you not heard a word we've said since you barged in here?

I wonder who she is? Tamamo said she might be one of the Tamamo Nine... Does that mean she's one of the tails from the Pale Faced Fox with Nine Golden Tails, one of Japan's three great fiends?!

Guess that's another one off the list. Wonder who the last one is.

I'm totally not. I would say my job is...singing. It's a little embarrassing, but that's how I make my living, at least. I wouldn't call myself an idol yet, but I seem to be doing all right. You know Seracon? I've been number one on the charts there for a few weeks now. People seem to like it, so I might as well keep it up.

As for "Seracon"? I'm pretty sure that's totally made up. Putting "Seracon" into Google did not quite yield results that would be relevant to an idol career.

A schoolgirl idol, on top of everything else?! And she's got the charisma to pull it off. That kind of thing's popular these days. What a crisis! I might have to rethink my wife-dom! N-No. I can't lose here. There's only room for one Cinderella fox girl! There's no room for new goodies in THIS gacha game!

Tamamo's obviously not a fan. I wonder where this is going...

And, like... What am I supposed to call you? Sorry, I just got here, so I really don't know...



Promising idol? Unattached to an agency? I smell "sequel hook".

By the way, the second choice is obviously for Francis Xavier, the Spanish saint who went to India, Japan, and a few other locales in East Asia to spread the Good Word. For some reason, there's a running gag in the EXTRA series where Hakuno can introduce herself as Francis Xavier.

Producer? Oh, you know. I COULD use a producer! Snap out of it, darling! Has that uniform of hers cast Charm on you?

Charm is usually a skill that enchants the enemy Servant to the point of skipping their turn (as it worked in EXTRA and CCC), and usually only works on the opposite sex, but Hakuno doesn't exactly swing that way.



Stop playing along with this! And you! Get out! GET OUT!!

The plot of Extella Link, the sequel to this game, practically wrote itself in this scene.