"I apologize for my lack of courtesy in not introducing myself properly."
Arthur's introduction seemed to genuinely surprise him, prompting him to bow in a proper manner, like a true knight.
"In that case, Sir Arthur, according to the etiquette of knightly duels, I should also introduce myself properly."
"I am Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, a member of the Fianna Knights of Ireland and a Servant of the Saber class," he said seriously.
No wonder…
Irisviel brought a hand to her mouth in surprise. From the very first moment, there had been something about that man—more specifically, the small mole beneath his eye—that exerted a strange attraction on her.
But as soon as she heard his name, everything made sense.
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne… the man known as the bearer of the "Love Spot."
A charm that was almost unfair against women.
"How about we move our fight to a more appropriate location? This isn't a good place for a fair duel," Arthur commented, casually pointing at the surrounding buildings as if he were suggesting changing restaurants.
"You're right," Diarmuid agreed without hesitation.
Not only would their battle draw too much attention, but the location itself was unfit for an honorable duel.
"I hope we meet again soon—and that we can have a duel to the death," he said.
With that, he turned and disappeared into the darkness, likely answering his Master's call.
The silence lasted only a moment.
"Someone else is coming," Arthur murmured.
"He's already here," Artoria confirmed, her expression turning serious once more.
Arthur smiled.
"I know exactly who just arrived…" he murmured.
Standing atop a streetlamp, arms crossed and clad in radiant golden armor, was Gilgamesh.
"You dare repeat what you just said in front of me… mongrel?"
His voice carried pure disdain.
His crimson eyes fixed on Arthur like blades.
"If I'm a mongrel… then what does that make you? Are you forgetting that you're also nothing more than a demigod?"
For a second, the air seemed to freeze.
"You insolent bastard…!"
The reaction was immediate—veins bulged on Gilgamesh's forehead. Behind him, countless golden ripples began to form in space.
Arthur merely sighed inwardly and turned to face him directly.
Their eyes met.
For a brief instant, Gilgamesh froze.
"That—" Surprise flashed across his face before being quickly replaced by even greater irritation.
"I am you… no, more precisely—" Arthur smiled with a faint mocking tone. "You are me."
The words hung in the air like a deliberate provocation.
"And you expect me to believe such nonsense?" Gilgamesh scoffed, though his anger now carried a direct affront to his pride.
The golden ripples behind him intensified.
"I suppose it wouldn't be that simple."
Arthur shrugged, and then a golden ripple appeared beside him as well.
"But what if I use this?"
From within it, golden chains slowly emerged, gleaming under the night sky.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause—and Gilgamesh's expression changed.
"…How do you have that?"
His voice lost its explosive tone.
But before either of them could say anything more—
"Hold it right there!"
A voice echoed from above, and with a loud crash, something landed carelessly between Arthur and Gilgamesh, kicking up dust and breaking the tense rhythm that had dominated the scene.
"Hahahaha! My name is Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, and I have descended into this world as a Rider in this Holy Grail War!"
The tension simply dissipated the moment he spoke.
All eyes turned to Iskandar, who laughed openly and without restraint.
"I never imagined that, aside from Berserker, there would be another Servant who would reveal his name so casually."
Kiritsugu, observing from afar, muttered something to Maiya Hisau beside him, clearly at a loss for words. Maiya simply nodded, equally incredulous.
The only one who truly suffered in that moment was Iskandar's Master, Waver Velvet.
His Servant's completely impulsive action made Waver go pale.
"Rider! What are you thinking, revealing your name like that?!"
Bang!
"Ah! That hurts!!"
Without even looking, Iskandar flicked Waver's forehead with a finger.
It wasn't strong, but it was enough to make Waver immediately clutch his head, writhing in pain.
In response, Iskandar simply nodded in satisfaction.
"Although fate has brought me to compete for the Holy Grail with all of you… there is one thing I would like to ask first."
He paused briefly, then spread his arms.
With a booming laugh, he declared:
"You are exceptional men who will be remembered for eternity! Why not become my vassals and hand over the Holy Grail to me?!"
"If you do so, I will treat you all as friends and share with you the joy of conquering the world!"
No one responded.
They all simply looked at him as if trying to decide whether this was a joke or not.
"I told you not to be so arrogant… everyone's going to laugh at us…" Waver muttered, defeated.
"Hahahaha! And what's the problem with that?"
Iskandar replied without the slightest embarrassment.
"Only the weak hide their ambitions! The strong proclaim their desires to the world without hesitation!"
He gave Waver a heavy slap on the shoulder.
"Waver, you'd better become a real man soon! Hahaha!"
"I'm already man enough!!" he shouted back, nearly in tears.
Iskandar's laughter echoed throughout the entire area.
Even Kiritsugu, half a kilometer away, could hear it.
He sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"The world was nearly conquered by someone like that… what a joke."
Beside him, Maiya only smiled faintly.
---xXx---
"You truly dare to say that…"
Before the scene could continue—
"…Such insolence."
Gilgamesh's voice cut through the air, heavy with disdain.
But before he could go on—
"So it really is you. It had to be."
Another voice echoed.
It came from the top of a nearby warehouse, amplified by magecraft.
A sound that made Waver freeze in place.
"I was wondering what had happened to you to steal my relic… but I never imagined you would actually use it to summon a Servant and participate in the Holy Grail War."
"Eh…?" Waver's body stiffened completely.
But while that was happening—
Arthur sighed, bringing a hand to his forehead as if tired of the entire farce.
"One louder than the other…"
he muttered, then looked directly at Iskandar with a faint, provocative smile.
"King of Conquerors, hm?"
Arthur tilted his head, evaluating him without a trace of reverence.
"You interrupt my conversation… and still think you can recruit us as if you're gathering soldiers in a tavern?"
Then, without even looking, he pointed his thumb toward Gilgamesh.
"That one over there is particularly sensitive when someone talks about 'submission.' Especially when he's not the one giving the order."
The golden ripples behind Gilgamesh intensified dangerously.
"…Shut up, impostor."
His voice was low, but filled with pure killing intent.
"If that helps you sleep better at night, Goldie… you can keep believing that. After all, denying reality is a form of comfort, isn't it?" Arthur mocked—though, at one point, that same mockery could have applied to him as well.
(End of Chapter)