However, the answer the Conqueror King received was a shhht sound breaking through the air, and a dagger glinting with cold light appeared in the middle of where the kings were seated.
At this moment, only the handle of the ladle remained in the Conqueror King's hand; the bowl part had fallen to the ground. The fine wine within had splashed all over the Conqueror King. Everyone present fell silent, and the only response to the Conqueror King was Assassin's mocking laughter.
Looking at the Conqueror King again, he was holding the remaining ladle handle like a fool.
This was damn awkward.
The Conqueror King looked down speechlessly at the wine spilled on the ground...
"Conqueror King, treating guests also depends on what kind of guests they are," Meruem said calmly. He didn't take the Assassins seriously at all. To be honest, even if there were several times more Servants of this level, he had no fear. "The other party is clearly an unwelcome guest at the door. So, what will you do?"
"Don't say I didn't warn you." Although he still spoke in a calm tone, the aura around the Conqueror King changed. Meruem could sense the mana gradually rising from the Conqueror King's body.
"I said, 'this wine' is 'your blood'... right? Since you casually spilled it on the ground, then I won't be polite either..." Like a magical girl transformation sequence, the Conqueror King, clad in the armor he wore when first summoned, appeared before everyone.
"Saber, and Archer, KING—the final question of the banquet: Is a King solitary?"
Goldie laughed out loud. There was no need to ask this at all, so he answered with silence.
"A King is naturally solitary," Artoria answered the Conqueror King firmly, looking at him. Although her conviction as a king had been refuted earlier, it wasn't as thorough as in the original story.
The current Artoria hadn't fallen into self-abandonment like in the next Holy Grail War, nor had she developed the irresponsible wish of letting the Sword in the Stone choose a new king before she pulled it out.
However, King of Knights Artoria, you seem to overestimate the Holy Grail's ability too much. A mere Holy Grail is just a construct built by the Three Great Families to realize the Third Magic. The ability to return to the past and change history—I'm afraid let alone the Holy Grail, even the Third Magic among the Five Great Magics couldn't do it. Maybe the Second Magic could, but at least the Holy Grail can't.
The so-called wish-granting might have more restrictions than Shenron of Earth from the Dragon Ball plane.
Moreover, the current Holy Grail is polluted. I'm afraid that after Artoria makes this wish, Britain might even be destroyed—assuming the Holy Grail has this ability.
"If a King isn't solitary, then why do Kings refer to themselves as Gua Ren... and Gu (lonely one)?" This was Meruem's answer.
Kings are solitary, but I am not...
I still have them by my side. Meruem thought of Pitou, Reiko, Saori, Pouf, Youpi, and his other lovely subordinates.
So I am not a qualified King.
"Wrong! Completely wrong! Today I will teach you what a true King is!" The Conqueror King laughed loudly.
Hahaha, Conqueror King, it seems you are not a qualified King either.
Because a King is destined to be solitary. The one who can bear what ordinary people cannot is the true King.
The Conqueror King's way of conquest is like a great dream. But this kind of dream is destined to be only an illusion. No matter how great this dream is, it cannot represent the true ideal in everyone's heart. Therefore, the Conqueror King's endless dream must have an end, and the chaos triggered at the end of the dream will inevitably be immensely vast. So after the Conqueror King died, his country fell apart and collapsed.
Actually, among the people present, the one who fits the definition of a King best is Artoria, whom you mocked. It's just that the path she walks is full of thorns.
Meruem didn't pay any attention to the fact that they had now appeared in a desert-like environment; he just looked at Artoria quietly.
Suddenly, Meruem thought of a person, a King just like Artoria. A King who lived for the people, and similarly lost all friends because of becoming King, but at least in the eyes of the common people, was a qualified King admired by all.
The Hero King, Sion Astal, King of Roland.
"Is this a Reality Marble? How is that possible? To materialize the scene in one's heart... You're clearly not a magus!?" Irisviel cried out in shock.
Hearing this cry, Meruem finally came back to his senses and carefully examined the surroundings.
"Is this a Reality Marble? Amazing existence. But... Red Archer has one too." Meruem praised sincerely.
"Of course not. How could I do this alone?"
Standing in the vast barrier, the Conqueror King denied it with a proud smile.
"This is the land my army once traversed. The scenery is firmly imprinted in the hearts of the warriors who shared joys and sorrows with me." Under everyone's astonished gaze, materialized cavalrymen appeared one after another around the Conqueror King. Although their races and equipment varied, their strong bodies and brave demeanor all demonstrated the army's formidable power.
"Behold, my peerless army!"
These people... are all Servants.
Among the people present, perhaps Artoria was the most shocked.
Because she once possessed such an army too.
But now, the Knights of the Round Table she was once proud of had disintegrated.
Just because of herself, because King Arthur didn't understand human emotions.
At this moment, Artoria felt a sudden weight on her shoulder; a hand appeared resting on it.
It was Meruem.
"No need to envy... King Arthur." Looking at the mighty army behind the Conqueror King, Meruem said.
"KING..."
"If you call out sincerely, your Knights of the Round Table will still gather around you again."
"What do you know..." Artoria looked at Meruem with eyes that seemed about to spew fire.
"If you don't try, how do you know it won't succeed?" You think Lancelot betrayed you? You think Mordred betrayed you? No, actually... Lancelot wanted you to punish him severely; dying by your hand might have been his proper end, rather than simply forgiving him. And Mordred just wanted your attention, your acknowledgment.
These seemingly laughable results are only because... only because they all valued you immensely. You are the one who is loved by them.
"Please believe me, and believe in your subordinates. If you call them sincerely, perhaps a miracle will happen."
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