The wife was having a terrible headache, because Saber (her true love) and Kiritsugu (her original partner) were once again in conflict. The wife wanted to mediate, but with her limited experience, she simply had no way! She could only watch their relationship become increasingly strained, hoping that the two would not have too big a conflict. Otherwise! This Holy Grail War might be lost right here.
"Boom!" A roar echoed in Irisviel's ears.
Not only that, this roar, as if to tear through the Nightfall, also caused an enormous burden on her magic circuits, and the dizziness almost made her fall.
Then, in the instant she merely stumbled, she was supported by Saber, who had appeared beside Irisviel at some unknown point.
"Are you alright, Irisviel?" Saber went up and asked with concern.
"Trying to break through from the front while Kiritsugu is away?" The wife clutched her startled little heart and analyzed.
"From the thunder just now and this unbridled way of appearing, the enemy is probably Rider." Saber said as she put on her armor, bringing the wife to the door. The scene before them was speechless. Dressed in a 'Grand Strategy' vest, brown shorts, revealing muscular calves like pillars, holding a wine barrel. Like a wine delivery boss, plus that cheerful (foolish) smile. It was both speechless and amusing, but holding back the thought that those who come with ill intentions are not good, and those who are good do not come with ill intentions, Saber still held her Invisible Air, vigilant.
"Yo. Saber." Completely ignoring their wary gazes, Rider greeted Saber cheerfully.
"Rider?" Not sensing any hostility, Saber replied uncertainly.
"I heard you were stationed in a castle, so I came to visit. Why is it such a gloomy place?" The red-haired man ignored their speechless expressions, looked around at the dilapidated castle, and said dismissively.
"And why did you come out wearing such an unromantic battle suit from the start? Why didn't you change into modern fashionable clothes tonight?!" After glancing at Saber, the red-haired man grumbled dismissively, proudly patting his short-sleeved shirt. He said with a proud expression.
"Rider, what exactly are you here for?" Saber asked, unable to bear it any longer.
"Can't you tell?"
"Of course, I'm here to drink with you!" He said, hoisting the wine barrel onto his shoulder and smiling at Saber.
"I say, don't just stand there, hurry up and lead the way. Is there a suitable courtyard for a banquet? This castle is all dusty, it won't do." The red-haired man complained, completely ignoring their expressions that wondered whose fault it was.
"Roar! We're not late, are we?!" Just as the four were about to change locations, Erza appeared before them with Berserker.
"You're not late, I just arrived too!" The red-haired man scratched the back of his head, smiling like an idiot... er! He was an idiot to begin with.
"Berserker and Berserker's Master, who are you?" Saber, although a little wary of the two who suddenly appeared, did not show too much hostility because Rider was there.
"We were invited by Conqueror King to attend the banquet! So, excuse our intrusion." Erza's good manners earned her and the wife a lot of goodwill. With that barbaric fellow, Conqueror King, preceding them, anyone would have a good impression of a polite girl.
In less than ten minutes, the six arrived at the central garden and sat on the ground, but Erza did not go near Conqueror King and King Arthur. Instead, she found a corner to watch the farce, and Lancelot also stayed by Erza's side. But her eyes were fixed on Saber, unmoving.
"Legend says that the Holy Grail is destined to be obtained by one who is worthy of it." After opening the wine barrel, the red-haired man took a scoop and drank directly, then began to speak to Saber opposite him.
"And this struggle in Fuyuki is a ritual to determine that person."
"But if it's just about letting the Holy Grail see clearly! Then there's no need for bloodshed at all. It just needs the Heroic Spirits to be convinced by each other's abilities, and the answer will naturally be found." Goldie said, scooping a ladle of wine from the barrel and handing it to Saber. Saber took the wine and gulped it down heartily, which Goldie watched with satisfaction.
"You mean you want to decide who is superior first, Rider?"
"Exactly. Since both of us claim to be kings and refuse to yield, a struggle is naturally unavoidable. This means that this is not a 'Holy Grail War' but a 'Holy Grail Question'. Let's use wine to ask who is more qualified to be the 'King of the Holy Grail'!" Goldie said solemnly.
"—Enough with the jokes, mongrel!" A dazzling golden light flashed before everyone, and Goldie appeared. But what Erza was more puzzled about was why Enkidu hadn't come.
"Archer, why are you here…?"
Saber asked sharply, but it was the calm Rider who answered her.
"Ah, when I saw him on the street, I invited him to drink with us… But he's still late, Goldie. But he, unlike me, is on foot, so we can't blame him."
"I knew it! How could a gathering of kings be missing one person!"
"However, I didn't expect that someone who doesn't put me in his eyes and ignorantly calls himself 'King' would appear again today!" Goldie's chunibyo hadn't been properly taught by his good friend, and he immediately started spewing nonsense.
"It's truly impressive that you chose such a dilapidated place for a banquet. That's probably the extent of your taste. You made me rush here specially, how will you atone for that?"
"Don't say that. Come, have a drink first."
Ignoring Archer's words, Rider laughed heartily and handed him a ladle full of wine.
Alice Phil expected him to be angered by Rider's attitude, but unexpectedly, he simply took the ladle and drank the wine in one gulp.
Alice Phil recalled Saber's earlier mention of a "challenge."
In Alice Phil's understanding, since Archer, this golden Heroic Spirit of unknown true identity, claimed to be a "King," it was impossible for him to refuse the wine offered by Rider.
"…What kind of inferior wine is this? To use such wine for a battle between kings?"
Goldie said with a look of disgust.
"Is that so? This is an expensive item I bought from the high-end market here! It's good wine."
"The reason you think that is because you don't understand wine at all, you mongrel!"
A vortex of void space appeared beside the sneering Goldie. This was the prelude to that strange phenomenon that could summon Noble Phantasms. Weber and Alice Phil only felt a chill run down their spines.
But… what appeared beside Goldie tonight was not weaponry, but a series of wine utensils inlaid with dazzling gems. The heavy golden bottle was filled with colorless, clear liquid.
"Look, this is the 'King's Wine'."
Rider didn't care about Goldie's tone and happily poured the new wine into three cups.
Saber still maintained a strong sense of vigilance towards the mysterious Goldie. She looked at the wine in the golden bottle with some hesitation, but still accepted the offered wine glass.
"Oh, delicious!!" Looking at Goldie's exaggerated expression, Erza became even more determined to get rid of Goldie. What other good things were in that treasury? This was a temptation!
As the wine flowed down her throat, Saber felt a strong sense of expansion in her mind. This was indeed a fine wine she had never tasted before, strong and pure, mellow and refreshing, with a rich aroma filling her nasal cavity, making her feel as if she was floating.
"This is amazing! This definitely isn't wine brewed by humans, it must be what gods drink!" Goldie exclaimed.
"Of course, whether it's wine or swords, my treasury only stores the best things. This is the taste of a king."
"What a joke, Archer."
Saber suddenly roared in anger. The calm began to be broken by the tense atmosphere.
"I'm tired of hearing you boast about your wine collection. You don't act like a king, but like a clown."
Goldie sneered, looking at the fiery Saber.
"Nonsense. Someone who doesn't even understand wine isn't fit to be a king."
"Archer, your excellent wine truly can only be accompanied by a supreme cup… But unfortunately, the Holy Grail is not for holding wine. What we are doing now is a Holy Grail Question to assess whether each of us has the qualification to obtain the Holy Grail. First, you must tell us why you want the Holy Grail. Archer, as a King, try to convince us that you are the one who deserves the Holy Grail."
"I can't stand you. First of all, we are here to 'contend' for the Holy Grail. Your question is far too removed from that premise." The arrogant Goldie began to act conceited.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Rider raise an eyebrow in surprise, Goldie sighed helplessly.
"Originally, that should have been my possession. All treasures in the world originated from my collection, but because a long time passed, it was lost from my treasury, but its owner is still me."
"So you're saying you once owned the Holy Grail? You know what it is?"
"No."
Goldie calmly denied Conqueror King's follow-up question.
"This is beyond your comprehension. The total amount of my property even exceeds my own cognitive scope, but as long as it is a 'treasure,' then it definitely belongs to me, that's very clear. To try and forcibly take my treasure, you should have some self-awareness."
Now it was Saber's turn to be speechless.
"It seems his head broke when he manifested! (referring to Goldie)"
"Oh, well, what can I say."
Unlike Saber, Conqueror King mumbled as if in agreement. At some point, he had picked up the wine bottle and unconcernedly poured more wine into his cup.
"Speaking of which, I think I do know your true name. A king more arrogant than I, Iskandar, there should only be that one person." From the beginning, when Goldie fought Lancelot, Goldie had some suspicions.
Alice Phil and Weber immediately leaned in, listening intently, but Rider changed the subject.
"So Archer, does that mean if you nod your head and agree, we can get the Holy Grail?"
"Of course, but I have no reason to bestow it upon wretches like you."
"Are you reluctant?"
"Of course not, I only bestow upon my subordinates and people."
Goldie smiled mockingly at Rider.
"Or Rider, if you are willing to submit to me, then I will give you one or two cups."
"…Ah, that's impossible."
Rider scratched his chin, seemingly feeling that the other party's condition was too high, so he simply turned his head away.
"But Archer, actually, it doesn't matter to you whether there's a Holy Grail or not, you're not fighting for the Holy Grail to fulfill some wish."
"Of course. But I cannot let go of those who take my treasures, that is a matter of principle."
"Which means…"
Rider drained the cup of wine.
"So what does that mean? Is there some reason or logic behind it?"
"It's a law."
Goldie immediately replied.
"A law established by me, as King."
"Hmm."
Rider seemed to understand him, letting out a deep sigh.
"What a perfect King, able to uphold the laws he sets. But still, I truly desire the Holy Grail! My way is to seize what I want, because I, Iskandar, am the Conqueror King!"
"Not necessarily. If you dare to trespass, I will punish you. There is no room for negotiation."
"Then we shall meet on the battlefield."
Goldie nodded seriously, as did Rider.
"...But Archer, let's just drink for now. The battle can wait."
"Of course, unless you truly don't care for the wine I've brought."
"What a joke! With such fine wine before me, how could I bear not to drink?"
At this moment, Goldie and Rider made it impossible for Saber to distinguish between friend and foe. She could only sit silently to the side, watching the two of them. A moment later, she finally spoke to Rider.
"Conqueror King, since you've already acknowledged that the Holy Grail belongs to someone else, do you still intend to take it by force?"
"...Hmm? Of course! My belief is 'conquest'... which means'seizing' and 'invasion'!
"Sigh! She's still just a little girl!" Erza watched Saber, whose face was red from arguing with the two men, and shook her head. The current Saber was not mature, and her wish was also very naive. To want to save a country that had been destroyed for hundreds of years—such a wish! She didn't know what to say about her! Changing history, denying the dreams of companions who fought to the death with her without regret!
She turned her head and glanced at Lance, who stood quietly beside her. She hoped she wouldn't go berserk after hearing those words. Sigh! How come I feel like I'm sighing more and more often lately? Could it be! It's already here!
"Then! What is your wish, Saber?" Conqueror King asked curiously. Hearing this, Erza snapped out of her wild thoughts. She had to witness this moment of face-slapping.
"I want to go back to the past and find that person. To tell her 'I love you'!" Saber said her wish loudly, blushing. Hmm! As expected, ah... A-Lei! A-Lei Lei! What's happening? Director, the lines are wrong.
"Sigh! What kind of person could make a King so... concerned!" Conqueror King and Goldie's eyes sparkled with gossip, and they pulled out small notebooks to ask. Even Alice Phil's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"That is my Queen, Guinevere!" She took a gulp of the wine in her hand, as if to steel her courage.
"Eh! What's going on? Didn't she already marry you? And why are you only saying 'I love you' now!" Goldie and Goldie seemed possessed by some village crows, gossiping excessively.
Just as Saber was about to begin her story, a sudden murderous intent interrupted her enthusiasm. Goldie and Goldie also looked around the empty surroundings with displeased expressions. Damn it! Just when they were about to hear something interesting, it was like they had already taken off their pants, and then you turn out to have a huge penis! It was frustrating.
The Gymnastics Squad makes a dramatic entrance...
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