Does a Doll Deserve to Live a Happy Life?

Chapter 17: The Cost of War

Moving as fast as we could through the city toward Archer and Rider’s location, I felt some of my nerves resurface—even with Stress Defense active.

I had come really close to dying the last time Tamamo and I confronted Gilgamesh, and the only reason I came out unscathed after clashing with Ea was due to his arrogance—and him not wanting to cause too much destruction to the city for some reason.

I knew perfectly well that if he had unleashed Ea at even half power, I—and half the city—would’ve been erased from existence. Ea was just that powerful. It was an Anti-World weapon for a reason, and only the likes of Excalibur could hope to compete with it.

Well, at least for now. Godou Kusanagi had some truly OP weapons at his disposal capable of ridiculous feats. The problem was I needed to level up my Template first to full power. The Company wouldn’t just hand over that kind of firepower for only 20 credits, after all.

And now Gilgamesh would be more aware of what Tamamo and I were capable of. We wouldn’t survive another clash if he decided to take us seriously.

Even with Lancelot’s help, this would be a gamble. Everything would depend on whether we could overwhelm Gilgamesh right from the start—keep him from drawing Ea—and land a finishing blow.

As if sensing my troubled thoughts, I felt a soft hand take mine as we leapt from rooftop to rooftop at full speed.

Turning, I met Tamamo’s beautiful golden eyes. She looked at me with worry… yet her reassuring smile told me everything would be okay.

Squeezing her hand to let her know I was alright, I returned her smile and let go as we neared Fuyuki Bridge—where Rider and Gilgamesh were now clashing.

“Berserker, remember the plan!” I shouted to the side, where Lancelot was leaping across the rooftops with Kariya riding on his back.

Turning his helmeted head toward me, he gave a single firm nod.

Finally, my heart settled. I fully immersed myself in a calm, razor-sharp state of mind—courtesy of Stress Defense—and gripped my hand, feeling the Command Spells embedded there.

Let’s end this.

=====

Moments Later — Fuyuki Bridge

It wasn’t long before we got a clear look at the battle raging ahead, our enhanced eyesight cutting through the distance—though Kariya, lacking such enhancement, couldn't see what we did.

What we saw made me frown in slight worry.

Up until now, most of the bridge had been enveloped in a wall of magical energy, which I could only assume had been Rider’s Reality Marble.

But now that Reality Marble was collapsing—falling apart piece by piece—which could only mean one thing: Gilgamesh had already crushed it using Ea.

That ruined our plan right from the start. Ea was already out.

Clicking my tongue in frustration, I brought my hand to my chest and, in a flash of green light, activated Dead Count Shapeshifter, transforming into Siegfried then gripped Balmung tightly.

‘Tamamo,’ I called through our bond, and I saw her ear twitch in acknowledgment. She was listening.

‘We’re going all out from the start. Hold nothing back.’

‘Understood, Master,’ she responded with all the gravity the situation warranted.

‘...And please... don’t die,’ I added softly. It came out more like a plea than a command.

Tamamo was quiet for a heartbeat. Then, in a voice just as gentle, she replied, ‘Only if you promise to do the same, Sieg.’

Smiling, I turned to face her and gave her a grin. But I didn’t answer her with words.

I raised my hand, and the Command Spells embedded there began to glow.

“By my Command Spell, I order you—fight with all your strength.” One spell vanished in a shimmer of red light.

“By my Command Spell, I order you—come out victorious.” Another disappeared.

“By my last Command Spell, I order you—don’t die.” The final spell faded, leaving my hand bare… except for the secondary set I used for my transformations.

Tamamo’s magical aura exploded around her. Her presence surged skyward, and with a flash, a fourth tail emerged—her power now multiplied by nine.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Kariya doing the same for Berserker, but I paid it no mind. My focus was entirely on the battlefield.

The last pieces of the Reality Marble shattered—like glass blown away in the wind—revealing the forms of Rider, Archer, and Waver.

“Let’s finish this and go home, Tamamo,” I said, offering her one last, honest smile.

She stared for a moment, eyes wide with a blush coloring her cheeks, before her lips curled into a trembling smile. Her golden eyes shimmered with emotion.

“Of course, Sieg-kun~”

And with that, we leapt—descending into battle.

=====

Archer and Rider had only a moment to realize they were no longer alone before chaos erupted.

With Balmung glowing in brilliant azure light, I shot forward, beelining straight for Gilgamesh. The moment he noticed me, his eyes narrowed with genuine fury, and a feral snarl escaped his lips.

There were no greetings. No witty banter.

I closed the distance in an instant, my blade coming down with a cry: “Balmung!” A burst of concentrated energy surged forth—not the full force of my Noble Phantasm, but enough to force a block from even him.

The blow connected.

Through the dust and debris, I saw it—Gilgamesh had managed to block the strike with Ea itself. But by the twisted scowl on his face, I could tell that had enraged him even more.

“You filthy mongrel!” he roared. “You dare force me to block with the greatest of my treasures!? Have you no shame!?”

Golden portals flared into existence around him like furious eyes opening in the void.

My instincts blared like alarms. Every single weapon he was pulling now… had anti-dragon properties.

I braced myself—but I didn’t flinch.

Because I hadn’t come here alone.

A split second later, Lancelot blurred in from the flank, Arondight glowing with corrupted energy, already mid-swing. Gilgamesh was forced to leap backward, snarling as he avoided the blow by inches.

As one, we gave chase—our blades flashing like twin storms. Every swing knocked away the treasures he launched at us from Gate of Babylon. For once, the King of Heroes was being kept on the defensive.

And then—he made a mistake.

With his attention solely on us, he left his back exposed.

A blur of pink and blue struck like divine lightning.

“I won’t hear any excuses~ Cheating, flirting, and being late for dates… The fox sees everything!” Tamamo declared sweetly—her voice full of cheerful menace—as she activated a Noble Phantasm normally sealed away in another class entirely.

“Tokonatsu Nikkou – Goddess’ Love Parasol!”

Company perks were a hell of a thing.

Gilgamesh didn’t even have time to react.

The Noble Phantasm struck dead-on.

His whole body convulsed as a wheezing gasp of pure agony escaped him—so intense even I winced. And I wasn’t the one getting hit.

You see, that particular Noble Phantasm had another nickname.

Polygamy Castration Fist.

Super effective against males. And Tamamo, amped up with A-rank strength thanks to three Command Spells, had just kicked the King of Heroes square in the royal jewels.

Yeah. He wasn’t getting up from that with his dignity intact.

But we weren’t done.

Me and Lancelot surged in again, swords raised to end it—both of us aiming for the exposed curve of his neck.

Victory seemed within reach—

But our blades stopped.

Just inches from their mark, two golden chains shot out from portals above his shoulders, wrapping tightly around Balmung and Arondight, halting us mid-strike.

I clicked my tongue in frustration.

Chains of Heaven.

Of course. Those chains of his were just as troublesome as Ea. Gilgamesh had gotten serious.

Yanking my sword free, I leapt back with Lancelot just as more portals appeared—each firing a barrage of weapons at us like a golden rainstorm.

We were officially in round two.

=====

Waver’s POV

They were still alive.

Up until now, Waver had always believed that Rider’s Reality Marble was unstoppable. That nothing could stand against it.

He’d been proven wrong.

Archer—the Golden Servant—had shattered that illusion with a single strike. One devastating blow from the most overwhelming weapon Waver had ever seen:

Ea. The Sword of Rupture.

In just one move, the Reality Marble—and with it, the thousands of warriors Rider could summon—had been annihilated.

And yet… Rider still rode on.

Undaunted. Unshaken. Charging headlong into battle with the same unwavering resolve as ever.

Waver had been prepared to die. In his heart, he knew they couldn’t win this fight—not alone.

But then… they weren’t alone.

Just as the Reality Marble collapsed, and their final charge began, three blurs descended from above—slamming into the battlefield with explosive force. They engaged Archer instantly, stealing his attention and, inadvertently, saving their lives.

Rider reined in his chariot, skidding to a halt as Berserker—calmer than Waver had ever seen him—landed beside them and gently set down his Master before joining the fray.

“Hahahaha! Looks like we lucked out, Waver!” Rider bellowed with a laugh, as if they hadn’t just come within a hair’s breadth of obliteration.

Before Waver could even begin to scold him for being so absurdly carefree, footsteps approached—and they turned to see Berserker’s Master stopping in front of them.

“Greetings, Rider and Master of Rider,” the man said with a firm tone. “I was asked by Sieg—the Master of Caster—to deliver a message.”

Waver blinked. He barely recognized the man.

This wasn’t the half-dead figure they’d glimpsed earlier in the war. Kariya now looked… revitalized. Healthy. Strong. His once-gray hair was black again, and he wasn’t even limping.

Before either of them could respond, though, all three men suddenly winced—instinctively covering their family jewels as a pitiful whimper pierced the battlefield.

They turned just in time to see the cause.

Caster—pink hair, fox ears and all—had just brutally kicked Archer in the most sacred of places.

Gilgamesh was doubled over, wheezing like he’d been stabbed in the soul. The expression on his face was so raw, so agonized, that even Waver felt a pang of sympathy.

A very small pang.

Coughing awkwardly, Waver turned back to Kariya, determined to erase what he’d just witnessed from memory.

“A-Anyway… you were saying?”

Kariya gave a small shake of the head, his expression turning serious once more.

“He told me to say this,” Kariya said. “‘Help us defeat Archer, and I will grant your wish after the battle.’”

Waver glanced at Rider, then back at Kariya.

“I think I understand what he meant by those words,” Kariya added, his tone calm and steady. “And all I can say is… he spoke the truth.”

Rider was silent for a moment. Waver, no longer his Master, said nothing. He would go along with whatever Rider chose—because that’s what friends did.

“…Hmm. While it pains me to accept help,” Rider said at last with a sigh, “I’m in no position to turn it down.”

And without another word, he reached over and grabbed Waver by the back of the collar, gently plucking him off the chariot and placing him next to Kariya.

“Wait here, boy. And watch closely—The story of Iskandar will not end today!” Rider declared with a wide grin, then charged back into battle, turning the tide to a 4-on-1 assault.

“Win, Rider!” Waver shouted, voice full of conviction. “Come back victorious!”

And this time, he truly believed they could.

=====

Back to the Battlefield

We were doing it.

We were actually managing to push back Archer. Slowly but surely, we were gaining ground.

Lancelot and I kept him occupied up close, never giving him a chance to breathe, while Tamamo bombarded him from afar—firing off curses at random like a magical artillery fox.

Archer now had a few scratches across his face, and light wounds decorated his side. His golden armor was slightly scuffed. Not much, but enough to prove that he could be hurt.

We had pushed him so hard that the once-arrogant, boastful Gilgamesh had fallen mostly silent. He didn’t even hurl insults anymore. Not with words, anyway.

No, now his eyes did all the talking.

The moment he’d recovered from Tamamo’s “special” Noble Phantasm, he’d looked at us with sheer murder in his gaze—especially at Tamamo, the one responsible for his royal humiliation.

Thankfully, Lancelot and I never gave him the opportunity to act on that fury.

If either of us slipped for even a moment, I feared for the safety of my lovely fox.

Then I heard it—hoofbeats and grinding wheels.

A moment later, Rider’s chariot came thundering into the battle, and with it came renewed hope. His overwhelming presence hit the field like a second wind, and suddenly we were really making progress against the juggernaut that was Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.

“Hahahaha! If we survive this fight, kid, let’s go out for a drink!” Rider bellowed mid-charge, that massive grin plastered across his face as he nearly ran over Archer.

“Sure! First round’s on me!” I shouted back, matching his grin as I knocked aside a flying spear.

In the back of my mind, I noticed something odd:

…I was actually enjoying this.

‘Am I becoming a battle junkie?’ I thought, ducking under a blade and launching myself forward again. ‘I bet this is the Campione blood talking.’

At last, Gilgamesh spoke—his voice cold and disgusted.

“Have you no honor, King of Conquerors!?”

“Honor is for the living,” Rider replied easily. “Which we no longer are. Our time passed long ago. We are but echoes now, memories wearing steel.”

He turned his chariot again for another pass. “At the end of the day, I’m simply fighting side by side with fellow warriors… and perhaps a few future retainers.”

He shot forward, forcing Archer to leap into the air to avoid being trampled.

“Thanks, but I’d rather not serve anyone, Rider!” I shouted, hurling a wave of azure energy skyward at the airborne Gilgamesh.

At the same time, Tamamo—hidden completely from sight thanks to Trace and Information Defense—struck again, another barrage of Curses arcing toward Archer’s exposed back.

“My Master is the only being this fox will ever swear loyalty to~” she chimed. “After all, he’s my future hubby!”

Not to be left behind, Lancelot leapt into the air as well, blade gleaming with corrupted light.

“I serve but one king,” he said simply, mid-swing.

A three-pronged attack.

Nowhere to run.

For the first time—I saw it.

Panic.

Archer’s eyes widened as the triple strike converged.

A heartbeat later, he vanished in a roar of light and heat—engulfed in a massive explosion.

Lancelot landed beside me a moment later, Arondight held in front of him and ready. Rider pulled his chariot to a stop just next to us.

‘That must’ve done something, right?’ I thought, holding onto hope—but my senses stayed on high alert now wanting a repeat of last time.

And of course… that’s when everything went to hell.

If there was one thing I had learned across both of my lives—however short they’d been—it was this:

Life is cruel.

While our eyes were fixed on Gilgamesh, suspended high in the air, we forgot one very important detail.

There were people behind us who weren’t as indestructible as we were.

So when I heard Waver scream in panic, we all turned.

And I felt my blood run cold.

Kariya stood a few meters away, his body skewered with multiple Black Keys—the cruel silver blades embedded deep, several striking directly into vital organs.

Behind him stood none other than Kirei Kotomine, still missing an arm after his last confrontation with Tamamo. He looked at us with a blank stare and a cold, twisted smirk.

I took a step forward, ready to end him right then and there—

But that was our second mistake.

We turned our backs on the most dangerous Servant in this war.

And in that split second, he struck the one person not near us.

Tamamo.

I felt it before I saw it—like my heart had been ripped from my chest. A hollow pit opened in my stomach as dread crashed over me in a wave of pure agony.

I turned.

And the sight broke me.

Suspended in the sky, bound in the Chains of Heaven, was my Tamamo. Her beautiful figure hung there, limp, struggling—but unable to escape.

And worse—so much worse—was the sight of Ea protruding from her chest, impaled through her left lung.

Her hands clutched weakly at the blade, trying in vain to remove it. Blood ran down her chin, staining her lips as her eyes fluttered in pain.

A soundless cry escaped me.

Then came the scream—raw and broken.

“TAMAMOOOO!!”