However, he noticed that Yuto and the others showed no surprise.
"Huh? You already knew?" The King looked at them, taken aback.
Yuto nodded silently, and Ainz and the others did the same.
Iskandar scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah, so you all figured it out."
A resigned smile spread across his rugged face, the contrast between his gruff appearance and the helpless grin making the scene oddly amusing.
Lord El-Melloi II, however, showed no surprise.
He knew he had inadvertently revealed his true identity last night, so he wasn't surprised that Yuto and the others had deduced it.
"Although you've already guessed, please allow me to formally introduce myself once more. My original name is Waver Velvet, and I was apprenticed under Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. Now, having inherited the El-Melloi name, I am the current Head of the Department of Modern Magecraft at the Clock Tower. Please continue to address me as Lord El-Melloi II," he stated with seriousness.
His manners were impeccable, befitting a noble scion, and matched his refined appearance.
Iskandar, standing nearby, looked puzzled after hearing Lord El-Melloi II's self-introduction.
"Waver, how did you inherit the El-Melloi name? And what's with the 'II'?" The Conqueror King stared blankly, bewildered.
Waver turned to Iskandar, showing no surprise at being addressed by his old name.
"I wanted to carry on the responsibility thatKayneth bore in the Holy Grail War. His death... I should have prevented it."
A note of guilt and sorrow colored his voice.
After a moment of silence, Iskandar's lips curved into a smile. "Hmm, it seems you've grown quite a bit in these past ten years, Waver!"
Iskandar gazed at him with satisfaction.
Waver met his eyes, his expression relaxed, his gaze filled with joy.
'I'm just following in your footsteps, Rider,' he thought silently, offering only a faint smile.
"Come, come, let's have a drink!" Iskandar picked up the wine bottle, eager to pour.
Waver stopped him. "My tolerance... it's still the same."
"Silence! How can a man refuse a drink?!" The King brushed aside Waver's restraining hand.
Waver looked helpless but didn't protest as The King poured himself another glass.
"Waver, tell me about these past ten years," the King said, raising his glass and grinning widely at Waver.
Waver's eyes reddened again, but he quickly suppressed the emotion.
He picked up his own glass. "Alright!"
Clink!
Their glasses touched, and they both tilted their heads back to drink.
...
"Ah?! You actually ran into Hephaestion?"
At the bar, Iskandar covered his face with a helpless sigh when Waver mentioned Hephaestion.
He didn't seem angry, more like frustrated and exasperated.
"Yeah, I fought her," Waver nodded.
The outcome was obvious.
Since Waver was here, he had won.
Iskandar sighed, a rare sight on the face of the usually indomitable King.
Ainz and Rimuru, listening nearby, both looked puzzled.
"What is the relationship between that person and the King?" Rimuru asked.
Ainz stroked his chin, trying to remember where he'd heard that name before, but he couldn't quite place it.
"That woman is Rider's shadow warrior," Waver answered.
But Rimuru still didn't understand. "What's a shadow warrior?"
"A shadow warrior is someone who exists behind the king, ready to sacrifice their life," Ainz explained, knowledgeable on the subject.
Rimuru was surprised to hear this, but not shocked.
After all, kings needed such loyal protectors behind them. Many TV shows depicted similar dynamics, and Rimuru knew this well.
"Ah, so that's it. Hephaestion was my shadow warrior during my youth. But just before we embarked on the great expedition... we had a falling out, and we parted ways." As Iskandar recalled his past, a wistful look softened his features.
"Waver," he asked, turning to his companion, "what did she tell you?"
"She... she said something like the Endless Sea doesn't exist," Waver replied hesitantly.
He had feared this revelation would anger Iskandar, given that the pursuit of that very sea had driven the King entire life.
Yet contrary to his expectations, Iskandar chuckled.
The King propped his head on one hand, his rugged face a mix of resignation and understanding.
"I guessed as much," he said with a smile, showing no trace of anger.
Waver was taken aback.
He looked into Iskandar's eyes, finding only clarity, devoid of confusion or resentment.
"Are you not angry?" Waver asked, puzzled.
"Hahaha! Why would I be angry? She's still my subject. A king must have the magnanimity to forgive his subjects!"
"But why didn't she appear..."
"I already told you, I had a fight with her before I set out on this expedition. She refused to come with me, so she wouldn't be among the King's forces."
Iskandar took a resigned sip of his drink before turning to Waver.
"Waver, you're still so immature, ahhahaha!" Iskandar chuckled and patted Waver on the shoulder.
Waver frowned, wanting to retort, but decided against it.
'Perhaps I really am too immature. It's because I'm not mature enough that I've been chasing his shadow all this time...'
Yuto listened to their conversation, letting out a soft sigh in his heart as he walked into the kitchen.
The grilled meat for Fafnir was prepared.
As he opened the oven, the rich aroma of roasting meat wafted out.
Iskandar, seated at the bar, looked surprised.
He turned and patted the shoulder of the subject beside him. "Waver, did you bring money?"
Hearing Iskandar's question, Waver shook his head helplessly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
'Nothing's changed. He's still the same as ever.'
"Boss, could we get one order of that grilled meat?"
"Coming right up."
Waver ordered a portion of the grilled meat. Iskandar grinned widely, baring his teeth as he looked at Waver.
"Ahahaha! Waver, you've become much more generous than before!"
Waver's expression shifted at Iskandar's words.
He couldn't help but think about the massive debt he was burdened with.
'Perhaps I shouldn't have been so generous...'
"What's wrong?" Iskandar noticed the change in Waver's expression.
Waver took a deep breath and shook his head. 'Forget about the debt for today.'
"Nothing," Waver said with a forced smile.
"That's good. I was afraid you were still as stingy as ever."
"I was just a student back then, barely able to afford the travel expenses for the Holy Grail War. I had to borrow money from my classmates!"
"So you're saying you're rich now?"
"...Well, I suppose I'm scraping by..."
"Ah, I see. Then, Waver, buy me one of those B-2 bombers! They'd be perfect for conquering the world!"
Waver's lips twitched at Iskandar's absurd suggestion.
"Enough! That's unrealistic!"
"How is it unrealistic? Those things would be perfect for world conquest!"
"You're a Heroic Spirit now! A Heroic Spirit! Remember your identity!"
Waver's furious shout stunned Iskandar.
"Ah, right... What a shame..."
"How are you still as big a fool as before?"
Iskandar sighed dejectedly; his earlier excitement at seeing Waver having made him forget himself.
Yuto, emerging from the kitchen with skewers of grilled meat, couldn't help but smile at the scene.
In a way, this king-subject duo was rather amusing.
He'd never seen either of them like this before.
Before their meeting, one had left him with the impression of a wild and unrestrained Conqueror King, while the other was a calm and refined gentleman.
But now, upon their encounter, the Conqueror King had become endearing and comical, while the refined gentleman had developed a temper like an immature teenager.
Perhaps this was their true nature, hidden beneath their facades, only revealed in each other's presence.
He carried the grilled meat over to Fafnir.
A flicker of joy appeared on Fafnir's face, but it quickly turned cold.
"Long wait for a mere barbecue."
Yuto placed the plate in front of Fafnir and smiled, glancing around at the others.
"Boss, isn't that guy a bit... not quite human?" Tohru whispered, pointing at the Great Emperor.
"Hmm, the King of Conqueror is a Heroic Spirit," Yuto replied.
Tohru's eyes shifted at his words.
Heroic Spirit—the dragon girl understood what that meant.
But that wasn't the main concern. The dragon girl was worried about a certain somber goddess on the other side.
Hestia had maintained her usual composure while waiting, but after a short time, the young goddess slumped dejectedly over the table, the atmosphere around her turning gloomy.
"Goddess... Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Alright, but Boss, could you ask the Goddess to put away that pendant?"
"Why?"
"That necklace was forged by a god. It's having a negative effect on us."
Yuto turned to glance at Hestia.
The Goddess clutched the pendant in her hand, her arm hanging limply at her side, her face pressed against the table.
She looked as if she were dead!
Yuto sighed.
'What the hell? What kind of god is this? She looks like a corpse...'
"Alright."
After agreeing to Tohru's request, Yuto approached Hestia.