Ignoring Kiritsugu Emiya, who lay on the ground like a puddle of mud after Avalon was extracted from his body.
Meruem examined Avalon, which he had taken from Kiritsugu Emiya.
"I can feel the power contained within this tool; it is indeed a powerful Noble Phantasm."
After speaking, he handed Avalon to Artoria.
"You're giving it back to me? But unfortunately, I can't use it anymore." Artoria looked at Avalon handed over by Meruem and pushed it back.
"What? Knight King, you want to exit the stage now? I said just now, the prelude has only just begun." Meruem looked at Artoria with a smile and said meaningfully, handing Avalon to her again.
"KING, what do you mean by this?" This time, Artoria didn't refuse Meruem's goodwill and took Avalon.
A stream of mana flowed along Avalon, nourishing Artoria's body. Instantly, Artoria's body stopped collapsing.
But this was only a stopgap measure. Although it could temporarily extend Artoria's time in this world, it couldn't sustain her for long.
However, Artoria's left hand, which had been injured by Gae Buidhe, gradually returned to normal under Avalon's mana.
Meruem walked up to Artoria, carefully looking at her exquisite face close at hand, and leaned close to her ear, whispering softly.
"The remaining Servants, except for Assassin, are all Kings. That means the participants of this Holy Grail War include the four Kings: you, me, and them. Previously, the Conqueror King organized a Banquet of Kings to discuss kingship and heroes over wine. But... don't you think that was pointless? If problems could be solved peacefully just by verbal rhetoric, then why would there still be wars in this world?"
"If Kings want to convince each other, then let's use the most primitive method."
"Beat the opponent until they submit!"
"Originally, the Holy Grail War was a war, so let the remaining four Kings have a grand Battle of the Four Kings."
"Since ancient times, the winner becomes king, and the loser becomes a bandit. In the Banquet of Kings, the Conqueror King and the King of Heroes disdained your views on kingship, even refusing to acknowledge you as a King."
"Then this time, defeat them fair and square in front of them. Presumably, they will have nothing to say then."
"Winner takes all."
Meruem spoke into Artoria's ear, his hot breath tickling her ear and breeding a different kind of emotion deep in her heart. This was a feeling she hadn't experienced since she pulled out the Sword in the Stone and became the King of Britain.
Soldiers worshiped her; the Knights of the Round Table respected her. No one had ever been in such close contact with her.
Meruem's suggestion moved her a bit. Kings should use their fists to convince each other.
Although the Knight King loved peace and didn't yearn for war, a knight never feared a challenge.
Suppressing the urge to lightly lick that exquisite jade-like earlobe, Meruem looked into Artoria's beautiful emerald pupils, waiting for her answer.
"Then what about their thoughts?" Artoria didn't refuse but asked back.
This also represented tacit agreement. The "they" she referred to were Goldie and the Conqueror King.
"I think the Conqueror King definitely won't refuse this proposal. That bold uncle is eager for such a grand battle."
"As for that Golden Pika, his pride won't allow him to refuse either."
"Then what about Assassin and his current Master?" Artoria suddenly asked. "It seems Assassin isn't qualified to participate in this war. Are you going to deal with them?"
"Hehe..." Meruem didn't speak, just smiled lightly.
Meruem didn't answer Artoria, but someone was anxious to declare their stance. Kayneth abandoned Kiritsugu Emiya, whose Magic Crests had been completely abolished, and hurriedly said.
"No no no no... Your Majesty Knight King, I have no intention of fighting for that Holy Grail. The current me has already obtained everything I wanted because of the King. So something like the Holy Grail doesn't mean much to me."
"As for Assassin..." Kayneth paused here. "You might not believe it, but Assassin's wish isn't for those messy things you imagine. Assassin... she just wants to live peacefully, away from war and assassination."
Living peacefully might be a trivial matter for those high-and-mighty Kings.
But for the leader of the assassin clan, it was an extravagant hope.
As assassins, they were branded from birth with the mark of dying at any time during a mission. Even attaining the position of Hassan offered no exemption.
Want to quit? Absolutely impossible. The assassin world isn't somewhere you can just leave when you want. Want to live anonymously? Even more impossible.
Either die or continue the mission. There is no other choice.
And Assassin had long been tired of such a life.
"Is that so..." Artoria fell silent after listening.
To be honest, she could understand Assassin's wish. enabling her subjects to live peacefully had always been the kingly way she pursued.
And didn't she herself wish to live such a life? Not as a King, but living for herself.
A hand rested on Artoria's shoulder.
"KING... I'm fine." She didn't swat away the arm on her shoulder.
"But I don't have a Master right now, no mana sufficient to support me in battle..."
"You don't need to worry about that. If it's just mana..." Meruem smiled, smiling like a little fox whose plot succeeded.
"Even if it doesn't work... isn't there still mana transfer (sexual intercourse)?" Lightly biting Artoria's earlobe, Meruem whispered.
Instantly, Artoria's face turned red as an apple.
"You guy... what are you talking about?"
Kiritsugu Emiya and his assistant were handed over to Kayneth by Meruem. As for their fate, Meruem didn't ask, but it certainly wouldn't be good.
And Irisviel, being the vessel of the Holy Grail, wasn't harmed but was protected instead.
In the following days, the group of Heroic Spirits and Masters seemed to have reached an agreement; no large-scale battles occurred.
Until they received the invitation sent by Meruem.
The location was still the Einzbern castle from the previous gathering.
And this time, it was initiated by Meruem personally—the Battle of the Four Kings.
Abbreviated as "King's War".
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