Chapter 25: January 20, The King's Feast Turns Dark

"Munch, munch..."

"You sure can eat..."

Waver Velvet was frowning as he looked at me.

"I can't eat as much as Saber."

"..."

"King of Conquerors. You acknowledge that the rightful ownership of the Grail lies with another, yet you still intend to take it by force?"

"Hmm? Indeed. Is that not natural? My way of kingship is 'Conquest'... in other words, taking and invading."

Saber asked again.

"To go that far... what do you desire from the Grail?"

"Haha," Rider laughed somewhat bashfully, downed his drink in one gulp, and then answered.

"Incarnation."

It was an answer no one had expected. Waver inadvertently let out a strange "Huh?" and questioned Rider.

"Y-Y-You! Wasn't your wish world conquest──Gyaaaaah!!"

In the end, he received a flick on the forehead from Rider and was writhing in pain.

"Mr. London Star?"

"Don't call me London Star!"

"Anyway, world conquest... but if you wish for it with the Grail, where does the process go? A world conquest that ends with a wish is of no interest to the King of Conquerors. You might understand if I say he just wants to adventure, but to use an example... let's say you're playing a game. But then you use a cheat code like the Grail and suddenly reach the stage where you defeat the Demon King. Would that process be fun?"

"Well, no, it wouldn't..."

"That's why Rider chose incarnation."

"Ah... you mean, even if he fails at world conquest, he wants to enjoy the process of conquest itself?"

"Well, I think that's the answer. If we roughly guess why Iskandar left the sea and started traveling the world, it proves he's a man with a strong sense of adventure. He adventured until the very end. He wants to experience the process called adventure. He's not the type who wants to see the ending immediately."

At that, Waver nodded as if he understood my words.

"Hey, Caster's kid. Honestly, adventure is correct, but I went for the taste of exploring the unknown world!"

Then Waver shouted.

"That's the same thing!"

And with another forehead flick to silence his Master, Rider shrugged.

"Hmph, anyway, conquest is a dream I entrust to myself. What I wish from the Grail is merely the first step towards that."

"Mongrel... are you challenging me for such a trivial matter?"

Even Archer looked exasperated, but Rider's expression was deadly serious.

"Look, even if we are manifested by magical energy, in the end, we are Servants. In this world, we are like miracles──in other words, we are treated like some kind of joke, transient guests. Are you satisfied with that? I am not. In this world where I am reborn, I want to take root as a living being."

"......"

"Why... are you so obsessed with a physical body?"

"Because that is the starting point of 'Conquest'."

Rider clenched his fist tightly and stared at it as he spoke.

"To stand with my own body and face the heavens and the earth. That is the entirety of the 'act' called conquest... To begin, to push forward, and to achieve──that is my path of conquest. But the current me lacks even that one body. This will not do. I cannot start what must be started. Without relying on anyone, I, Iskandar, must have a body that is solely my own."

At Rider's words, Archer laughed and looked at Rider with a sinister yet terrifying gaze.

"I have decided.──Rider, I shall kill you with my own hands first. Then, you lot."

Gilgamesh pointed at us as he spoke, and Rider smirked and said:

"Heh, there's no need to make such a declaration anew. I too intend to plunder not only the Grail but also your treasury or whatever, so be prepared. Teaching the King of Conquerors the taste of such fine wine was a rash move."

With that, the two kings turned their attention to Artoria.

"Now, that aside, Saber. Come to think of it, we have not yet heard your wish?"

And Artoria spoke as if she had made up her mind.

"I desire the salvation of my homeland. With the omnipotent wish granter, I will change the fate of Britain's destruction."

Artoria's wish remained unchanged.

'Thinking of herself as a sinner... that final ending could have happened before, but Artoria changed the Britain that was destined to fall. But perhaps because she shouldered too much in that final ending, she came to harbor a mistaken wish.'

"Fou..."

Fou's cry was heard, but Gilgamesh just smirked with an exasperated expression.

And Fou quietly hid in the flower garden, while Artoria shouted unpleasantly.

"Archer, did you laugh at my wish?"

"Wait, King of Knights. Did I hear you wrong? Did you just say 'change fate'? Do you intend to overturn past history?"

Leaving the laughing Archer aside for a moment, Saber answered Rider's question.

"That is correct. Even if it is a wish that cannot be granted by miracles, if the Grail is truly omnipotent, then surely──"

At those words, both Archer and Rider looked at Artoria with expressions of disbelief.

"Um, Saber? Just to confirm... the destruction of that country called Britain happened in your era, right? It happened during your reign?"

"Yes! That is why I cannot forgive it!"

Feeling impatient at Rider and Archer's reactions, Saber inadvertently raised her voice.

"That is why I regret it. I want to change that result! Because it was none other than my duty..."

That duty ended the day she died. But unable to let go of that lingering regret, she became a king of sinners, struggling to change the wrong outcome.

The process itself was a wrong path.

Britain was destined for unavoidable destruction. If she were to avoid it... there was no way other than becoming a Divine Spirit.

Her body was immortal, but her mind was not ageless. She would slowly crumble, unable to even recognize if this was the right path, and would surely meet ruin like in the Sixth Singularity.

"──Calling yourself a king──being praised by all as a king──and yet such a person says 'I regret'? Ha! How can I not laugh at that? It's a masterpiece! Saber, you are a supreme jester!"

"Wait──wait a moment, King of Knights. Do you mean to deny the acts you yourself carved into history?"

"Indeed. Why do you ask? Why do you laugh? The homeland to which I dedicated my life was destroyed. Why is it laughable to grieve for it?"

The answer was, once again, Archer's burst of laughter.

"Oi, oi, did you hear that, Rider! This little girl who calls herself the King of Knights... of all things! She said she 'dedicated her life to her homeland'! Saber, do you intend to make me die of laughter!"

"Where is the reason to laugh? If one is a king, they should dedicate their body and wish for the prosperity of the country they rule!"

"No, that is wrong."

Rider spoke with a voice as unwavering as a rock.

"The king does not serve. The country, the people, they dedicate their lives to the king. Never the other way around."

"What..."

At Archer and Rider denying her wish, Artoria clenched her fists and trembled.

"──That is the rule of a tyrant! Rider, Archer, you are heretics who do not even deserve to be called kings!"

"Naturally. We are heroes because we were tyrants."

At Saber's words, Rider spoke without wavering, and Saber's eyes could be seen trembling with the thought, Am I wrong?

First, she was slightly denied by me.

Second, she was denied and mocked by Archer.

Third, she was denied by the confident Rider.

"But you see, Saber. If there is a king who regrets his reign and its outcome, he is nothing more than a foolish ruler. Worse than a tyrant."

"Iskandar, even you... your empire, built up, was torn into four and ended after you lost your heir. Do you mean to say you have no regrets about that end? If you could start again now, there was a way to save your homeland... do you not think that?"

"No."

Rider answered immediately. Even a fool could tell that his confident posture and unwavering voice held not a single lie.

"If that is the result reached at the end of my decisions and the lives of the subjects who were loyal to me, then that destruction is inevitable. I may grieve. I may shed tears. But I will never regret."

"That's──"

"Let alone overturn it! Such a foolish act would be an insult to all the humans who built the era with me!"

At the mention of all the humans who built the era, Saber looked as if she had received a great shock, her eyes trembling violently.

I had said something similar before.

Artoria had decided to ask the knights and make her wish, but now she was greatly shaken by Rider's words.

"Only warriors call the splendor of destruction honor. The people do not wish for such things. Salvation is their prayer."

"Salvation by the king, you say?"

"I don't understand. Is there any meaning in such a thing?"

"That is the essence of a king!"

This time, it was Saber who asserted with force.

"Correct rule. Correct reign. That is what all subjects earnestly desire."

And I interjected.

"Saber. You're wrong. Correct rule, correct reign. That might be true, but not all subjects desired that. Some feared the king was too perfect, others feared the control. It's no different from being forced into a correct reign... Then why didn't you execute Lancelot for raping your wife? Why didn't you execute Tristan, who ran away saying the king doesn't understand human hearts? Is that correct? Or is it wrong?"

"Among the Knights of the Round Table, both Lancelot and Tristan have achievements. To kill them so carelessly..."

"Artoria, you weren't wrong, but you tried to shoulder too much in the name of the King of Knights. Britain was surrounded by enemies on all sides, and I don't know exactly how many years you held out, but you endured for about 60 years. Yet you weren't satisfied. The reason you couldn't lay down your duty as a king and harbored a mistaken wish is surely because of that final battle. Defeating Mordred, suffering over the hill of corpses made of soldiers around you, thinking they all died because of you..."

"Stop, what do you know to speak like that!"

"Right, I don't know much. Merlin who fled to Avalon, Lancelot who committed adultery and tarnished the honor of the Knights of the Round Table, Mordred who committed treason..., Galahad who ascended with the Grail."

And hearing those words, it felt like Artoria's thread of reason had snapped.

".......I see. It seems I wasn't the problem. It was my knights, the Round Table, that was the problem. Come to think of it, considering how eager they were to cause trouble one by one... Grind."

Huh? That's not it? I brought up the topic to tell you it wasn't your fault. The target of her anger has shifted to the Knights of the Round Table for no reason.

"Uh... um..."

Rider looked at Saber with an expression that said something was wrong, and Archer was just laughing it off.

"Uh... and Britain was destined for destruction anyway, right? Even if you make a wish, you can't avoid destruction."

"..."

Artoria was silent.

Seeing Artoria's expression, looking like she had been hit in the back of the head multiple times, I decided to remain silent.

Pat, pat.

"Mama will protect you."

I'm trusting in Tiamat. Praying that Artoria's anger wouldn't be directed at me, we quietly drank and ate.

January 20, Assassins Suddenly Walking into a Death Trap

And then, the Assassins, unable to read the atmosphere, appeared.

"Im... possible! What happened!? Why are there so many Assassins, no, why do they keep coming!? There should only be one seat per class!"

"That's because~ it's Hundred-Faced Hassan. Hundred-Faced possesses a Noble Phantasm that controls hundreds of personalities, you know? I don't know about 20 of them, but there are 80 controllable Assassins. Among them, 1 was a sacrifice to Archer, and 4 or 5 died in Medea's traps."

"You knew?"

"Of course? I know most things about Heroic Spirits."

Waver Velvet began to look at me with a dumbfounded expression.

"If the Old Man of the Mountain were here, he would have said, 'Hundred-Faced, is it? What have you built with your myriad wisdom? Is it a desire to fight for a single truth with a hundred souls? Foolish one. Hand over your head.'"

"Cough!?"

At that, Hundred-Faced Hassan seemed flustered, but only for a moment.

Is it because they are Assassins who can maintain their composure?

"Is he someone related to the First Hassan?"

I shook my head.

"No, I've never met him once."

"I see. I didn't know you could imitate the First Hassan's tone without a single mistake, but it gives me goosebumps."

"........."

"The Assassins spoke for the first time!? And what is this First Hassan!?"

"Uh... to summarize simply, you can think of him as the first Hassan. Even Gilgamesh over there could die without being able to react once. Whether foresight works or not, the moment you witness him, your head is cut off. Should I call him Grand Assassin?"

"What is that? A hero armed with numerous Noble Phantasms dies without being able to resist once?"

"I acknowledge it too. That old man is the strongest as an assassin. If we fought openly in a frontal war, I might win, but in an assassination, even I would lose. He is death itself."

At that, Waver Velvet suddenly started touching his neck.

"I feel like my neck has been cut, it's giving me goosebumps."

"The evening bell has tolled thy name."

"Stop it! I'm scared to death!"

The Hassans began to glare at me with bewildered expressions.

"You... are you insulting the First Hassan!"

"Uh... that wasn't my intention?"

Just then, Rider shouted.

"Rider..."

"Hey everyone, that's enough. Would you mind refraining from emitting such a dangerous aura? As you can see, my companion can't stay calm, and it's troubling."

"Hah, do you intend to welcome even fellows like that to the feast? King of Conquerors."

"Of course. The king's words are spoken to all people! If they have come specifically to listen, then they are neither enemies nor allies!"

Speaking calmly, Rider scooped wine from the barrel with the ladle and held it out as if offering it to the Assassins.

"Now, do not worry. Those who wish to talk together, come here and take a cup. This wine is with your blood."

Whoosh──a sound of wind cutting through the air answered Rider's invitation.

Only the handle of the ladle remained in Rider's hand; the bowl had been severed and fallen to the ground. It was the work of a dagger thrown by one of the Assassins. The wine contained within was mercilessly scattered onto the courtyard and Rider's clothes.

Perhaps because I mentioned the First Hassan, unlike in the original story, they didn't laugh, but just stared with killing intent.

"──You won't say you misheard me, will you? I said this wine was with your blood... I see. If you insist on spilling it on the ground and my clothes, then there is no helping it..."

A gale began to rage around Rider.

It was a hot, dry, scorching wind.

No, to be precise, it felt like we had arrived in a desert of sand.

"Saber, and Archer. This is the final question of the feast.──Tell me, is a king solitary, or not?"

Rider's outfit changed from the clothes of an ordinary person to the attire of his time as a Heroic Spirit, showing us his broad back.

"A king... has no choice but to be solitary."

At Artoria's words, Rider laughed loudly. As if responding to his laughter, the surging wind gathered even more momentum.

"No good! I truly cannot understand! To the likes of you, surely I must show the form of a true king this time!"

"That's enough, Rider."

And there was a coldness in Artoria's voice.

"Don't tell me, Alter?"

Nah, it can't be. It's not like the anime where she turns Alter just by pulling out her ahoge...

"He says he'll show us. Why are you doing this?"

"I've found a target to vent my anger on. If I hold back now, I won't be able to control myself and might devastate the surroundings. Rider."

"Hmm..."

Rider had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Artoria's state was like this:

【Come to think of it. Is it my fault? No, I was cleaning up the messes caused by the Round Table, so in the end, isn't the result the Round Table's fault, not mine?】 She felt full of anger.

She looked like she was about to fire Excalibur three times in a row, so Rider had no choice but to remain silent.

"Hmph, very well. I shall provide a place for you to vent."

Rider simply used his Noble Phantasm.

We witnessed the sudden blast of hot wind and the transition from night to day.

"Th-that's...!"

We could only stare at the changed background with astonished voices.

An ordinary magus would be surprised, but Tiamat and I had no reason to be.

I already knew, and Tiamat, lacking knowledge of magecraft, just went "Mhm, mhm, I see?" and accepted it.

Meanwhile, Caster saw this and muttered.

"This is... a Reality Marble?"

"Is this Rider's Noble Phantasm?"

Lancer and Caster showed surprise at Rider's Noble Phantasm.

"That's absurd... the materialization of an inner landscape... You're not even a magus!?"

"Of course not. I cannot do this alone."

Standing tall in the center of the vast bounded field, Iskandar denied it, even with a proud smile.

"This is the land my army once traversed. The scenery burned into the hearts of the heroes who shared joys and sorrows with me."

Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at the mirage-like shadows appearing around him. Not one. Two, four, doubling in number as the faint images of warhorses formed ranks. They gradually gained color and substance.

"The reason we can give form to this world, this scenery, is because it is the shared image of all of us."

It was the appearance of the soldiers and retainers who gathered during Rider's journey of adventure.

Rider's Noble Phantasm was the materialization of the retainers who had made history with him as seekers.

These were Noble Phantasms close to Rider's story.

"These... every single one of them is a Servant..."

Each one is a Servant, weaker than a standard Servant, but every single one is an elite soldier.

They were retainers who had built up fierce combat experience, not humans with heroic skills.

They were clearly heroes, warriors, and those who dedicated their loyalty to Iskandar.

In conclusion, they were too difficult for Lancer to deal with, but an easy opponent for Saber, who possessed wide-range attacks.

"Behold, my peerless army! Though their bodies have perished and their souls have been called by the 'World' as Heroic Spirits, they are legendary heroes who remain loyal to me. My eternal friends, who have answered my summons across time and space. My bond with them is my treasure! My kingship! This is the strongest Noble Phantasm of I, Iskandar──『Ionioi Hetairoi』!"

And Rider embraced the horse's head tightly with his arm.

"It's been a long time, my partner."

Rider looked at Saber and said:

"Saber, I don't know about your anger, but I have prepared a wide stage for you! Run wild to your heart's content!"

"Very well. Hundred-Faced Hassan, was it? I apologize, but I would like you to become the target of my venting. Ex-calibur!!!! (Sword of Promised Victory)"

And King Arthur's Noble Phantasm erupted.

Caster quickly handed the mana path over to Tiamat, and Caster could only look at Saber with a dumbfounded expression.

Just like that, the Assassins in front of Artoria were vaporized by the light of the holy sword.

"Hot..."

"Rider, are you in a position to say that?"

"Merlin is a son of a bitch, and Lancelot should be castrated! Excalibur!!!"

"Gyaaaaaah!?"

And more Assassins vaporized.

"Two consecutive Noble Phantasm shots!? Can the Master's mana handle that level? This is beyond the realm of a magus!"

At Waver's words, I tilted my head.

"She's not Saber's Master. The Caster here is her Master. Uh... but did you pass the mana path?"

"Yes, if I hadn't, my mana would have run out. I would have lost my mind."

"Right..."

It seems the mana path was passed to Tiamat.

"Strike Air!"

The Assassins took out their daggers to resist, but we could see scenes of them being sliced by Artoria's sword or swept away by the wind.

"Saber has quite a temper too. Hahahaha!"

"Was there a need to use your Noble Phantasm, Rider?"

"If we hadn't come here, Saber wouldn't have held back and would have devastated the surroundings. We can't ruin a good place for a feast."

At those words, everyone nodded in agreement, and Gilgamesh just smiled as if he found the sight cute.

"An angry look isn't bad either."

If she were Alter, Gilgamesh might have turned into an M.

"Excalibur!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And seeing Artoria fire her Noble Phantasm endlessly, Lancer, Caster, Tiamat, and I could only shake our heads.

It seemed everyone was thinking, She must have been really holding it in... as they watched Artoria.

While Artoria vented her anger on the Assassins, Iskandar's elite soldiers formed a formation to protect us.