"Artoria is being a bit cautious, isn't she?"
"Sigh, isn't that natural? I stole her original Master's Command Spells and became her Master. It's too soon to expect us to have built a relationship of trust."
I couldn't help but agree with Medea's words.
I knew that Artoria had participated in the Holy Grail War because she wanted the Grail, but I had to admit that I had been inconsiderate.
I had just wanted to see the battle between Lancer and Saber, like in Fate/Zero, but now, unlike the original story, she hadn't been hit by the golden short spear. It seemed things were proceeding in a more cautious direction.
I had given her a hint, but that wasn't the important thing.
The important thing was that Artoria didn't trust us.
Considering how surprised she was to see a living Divine Spirit in front of her... she must have been wondering who on earth I was. And considering how hastily we had formed this alliance, I knew it was all my fault.
Even if a Servant is a familiar, they were once living humans, monsters, or other intelligent races. Considering that, it wasn't strange for her to be suspicious of us.
On the other hand, if something had happened to Irisviel? Artoria would have undoubtedly come for my head.
Britain was centered around chivalry, and if her lord or someone close to them had died, she would have resented me and killed me.
Still, Medea had the Command Spells, so it was possible she might have been restrained or even used as a mana extraction machine while dressed in a frilly outfit.
The only reason I was safe was because of Medea and Tiamat. If Tiamat wasn't here, I could see a future where I was cut down by Artoria.
I didn't know if I would reach my goal or, conversely, be led to ruin.
All I could do was continue down the path I believed in.
With those thoughts, I stroked Tiamat's head... and just watched Artoria through the crystal ball.
Meanwhile, the battle between Lancer and Saber...
『Lancer, how long do you intend to drag this out? Finish it, even if you have to use your Noble Phantasm.』
"As you wish, my lord. Saber, the game is over."
At his Master's words, Lancer's demeanor changed. Artoria broke out in a cold sweat.
'Do I have to use my Noble Phantasm... but this is a problem. I don't think Lancer will give me an opening to use it...'
Artoria considered deploying her Noble Phantasm, but considering the range was advantageous to Lancer, using it was akin to suicide.
Just then, as Lancer charged forward at high speed, a sudden roar of thunder echoed.
At the sound, Lancer took a step back from his charge.
If Lancer had continued his charge, he would have been hit by a chariot and taken fatal damage. It was the correct judgment.
"Is that... a chariot...?"
Irisviel couldn't help but be shocked at the sudden appearance of the chariot.
At first glance, it was an old-fashioned two-wheeled chariot. But instead of horses, it was pulled by muscular bulls with lightning crackling at their hooves. It was clear that this was no ordinary chariot, but a powerful war chariot that looked like it had come straight out of Greek mythology.
On top of the chariot stood a muscular giant over two meters tall. Behind him was a figure, either a boy or a girl, clinging to the giant and crying.
"Riderrrrrrr!!"
From the voice, it was clear this was Rider's Master, and that he was a boy.
"You two, lower your weapons. You are in the presence of a king!"
The booming voice that echoed as he appeared, riding through the sky, was comparable to the thunder from before. His gaze and spirit radiated a charisma so powerful it could make a sword and spear falter.
In that situation, Lancer judged that if he continued to fight, he would likely be attacked by both Saber and Rider. He lowered his weapon and glared at Rider.
Rider, seemingly unfazed by Lancer's glare, smiled and shouted:
"My name is Iskandar, the King of Conquerors. For this Holy Grail War, I have manifested in the Rider class."
Artoria felt a sense of déjà vu, while Lancer stared at Rider with a dumbfounded expression.
'This is bewildering... but compared to what I've been through, it's familiar.'
From being led to a café, to being paralyzed by a curse, to having her Command Spells and Master stolen by Caster... this was nothing.
"What do you think you're──doing!!! You idioooooot!!"
Rider's Master, seemingly unable to grasp the situation, shouted at Rider and clutched the conqueror's cape.
Rider gave his Master a light flick on the forehead. The sound echoed in the night sky, and the voice of protest was forcibly silenced. Artoria and Lancer looked on with dumbfounded expressions, wondering if it was okay to treat a Master like that.
Rider, as if nothing had happened, looked between Lancer and Saber and began to ask questions.
"It is our fate to fight each other for the Grail... but before we cross swords, there is something I must ask. I know not what each of you wishes for from the Grail. But think on it now. Is that wish still more important than a grand ambition that could swallow the heavens and the earth?"
Artoria was starting to get angry.
Once was enough for this kind of thing, but for the same thing to happen again the next day... she was starting to get angry enough to think this might be one of Merlin's pranks.
"You──what are you trying to say?"
"Hmm, I suppose I must speak more plainly."
Rider's majestic air remained, but his tone shifted to a subtly relaxed and familiar one.
"Will you not surrender to me first and yield the Grail to me? If you do so, I will treat you as friends and share with you the pleasure of conquering the world."
"""......"""
『He's completely insane.』- Akira
Everyone had a reason for participating in the Holy Grail War, and in order to have a wish granted by the Grail, the souls of six Heroic Spirits had to be offered.
To yield the Grail now was the same as being told to go die for his sake. Lancer was a man who had sworn loyalty to his Master, so those words were unacceptable.
To put it negatively, it was a provocation designed to piss people off. To put it positively... it was his way of saying, "Will you be my nakama?"
"That's a grand speech, but are you aware that six Servants must be eliminated for a wish to be granted by the Grail, Rider?"
"Oops... indeed. In that case, how about a temporary alliance? The terms can be discussed later."
""That's enough!""
At his persistent demands for an alliance, Lancer and Artoria couldn't help but get annoyed.
"I say again──I too was a king who ruled Britain. Even for one called the Great King, I cannot lower myself to become his subject."
"Oh? The King of Britain?"
At Saber's words, Rider looked at her with an interested expression.
"What a surprise. To think the renowned King of Knights was such a little girl."
"Do you wish to be cut down by that little girl, King of Conquerors?"
Artoria's blood pressure was rising. Seeing her hand tremble as she gripped Excalibur, Rider wondered why Saber was so angry, but he just furrowed his brow and let out a deep sigh.
"Well then──negotiations have broken down. What a pity. A true shame."
As he muttered and lowered his head, Rider's gaze met the resentful eyes staring up at him from below.
"Ri, der, rrrrrrr..."
The pain of his swollen forehead, and an expression filled with even greater misery and indignation, made Rider's Master a pitiful sight.
'Unfortunate. Is it his destiny to be with such a Servant...'
"What was that for? You go on about conquest and now we're hated... Did you seriously think you could make Saber and Lancer your subordinates?"
At his Master's words, Rider just laughed heartily.
"Well, you know what they say, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained.'"
"You revealed your True Name for 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'!?"
Waver, having lost his composure, began to cry as he feebly pounded his fists against Rider's chestplate. The pitiful sight left Irisviel at a loss for whether to feel contempt or pity.
And the subtly relaxed atmosphere──
『So, it was you of all people.』
──was frozen once again by a low, resentful voice that seemed to crawl along the ground.
It was Lancer's Master, who had yet to reveal himself. After ordering his Servant to use his Noble Phantasm, he had fallen silent and watched the fight. Now, for some reason, he had interjected. And his voice, a complete change from before, was filled with a hatred that could only be explained by some personal circumstances.
『I was wondering who could have been so blind as to steal my catalyst──to think it was you, with the intention of participating in the Holy Grail War yourself. Waver Velvet.』
As his name was called out in a voice full of anger, Rider's Master understood that he was the target of that hatred. Not only that, but he began to tremble as he recognized the owner of the voice.
"Ah... uh..."
『A pity. A true pity. I had hoped my dear student would live a happy life. Waver, a mediocrity like you could have obtained an ordinary and peaceful life befitting your station.』
『Should I object? I am Caster's Master, and I'd like to ask... if you were Rider's Master, could you handle him? Lancer's Master has the pride of a magus, but the problem is if Rider disobeys from the start, acts on his own, and reveals his True Name, that would have been a huge problem.』- Akira
At those words, Lancer's Master paused for a moment as if in thought, then said.
『Who is this? I can tell you are Caster's Master, but I cannot even sense where you are. Then again, it is only natural if you are speaking with Caster's help.』
『And the Ulster Lancer is not exactly a good pick... especially for couples, he's a Heroic Spirit that's good at breaking them up...』
"Caster's Master! If you insult me further, I will not forgive you!"
『It's the truth, isn't it? Because of that curse, you stole your lord's wife, and in the end, you died without being forgiven... That destiny will not change. Unless you weaken or remove the curse.』
"You speak as if you know me well."
『Still, I hold your loyalty to your Master in high regard. On the other hand, if you had become Rider's Master instead of Lancer's, you would have used your Command Spells from the start, and then again after that. If you were then judged to have low aptitude as a magus, wouldn't that also be a problem?』
『Caster's Master is right. Waver Velvet, I express my gratitude to you.』
At the gentle voice of Lancer's Master, Rider's Master scowled and shouted.
"Don't thank me! Just curse me!!"
『Stealing the catalyst was a crime... but considering my honor would have been tarnished if I had summoned Rider, I have no choice but to be grateful to you, Waver Velvet. After the Holy Grail War is over, I will be lenient with the compensation for the catalyst.』
At the mention of money, Waver looked at Lancer with a flustered and pale expression.
Lancer's hostility towards Rider had also changed to a more ambiguous feeling. But seeing him inwardly smiling at the praise of his loyalty, Rider's Master was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
"Wait, how much do I have to compensate?"
『You shall compensate 30% of what I have spent on this Holy Grail War.』
At Lancer's Master's words, Rider's Master said with a pale face.
"Are you trying to kill me!? I don't know how much you've spent! I don't even know how much 30% is!"
『Do not worry. If you receive my tutelage, you should be able to pay it off within 10 to 30 years.』
At the mention of 10 and 30 years, Rider's Master's face turned from pale to black.
"Isn't that... just slavery?"
『Do not worry. Your organs and Magic Circuits will remain intact.』
"No, no, that's human trafficking!"
『As a magus, you should know that such things are common, Waver. If you want to pay off your debt, you just have to win the Holy Grail War. Or should I say, Ri-der Mas-ter?』
At Lancer's cringeworthy words, Rider's Master looked at the ground as if he was about to be sick.
"Hey, kid, don't puke on my chariot."
Meanwhile, Artoria was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
'Am I the only one who doesn't understand? Why are you suddenly agreeing with him!?'
Artoria was bewildered, wondering if she had fallen under some kind of spell.