"Tsk, truly exquisite," the King of Conquerors murmured from his seat, savoring the fresh wine and offering lavish praise. "Magnificent. This surely wasn't brewed by mortals; it is wine fit for the gods."

"Indeed, a superb vintage, deserving only of a king's banquet. Ah, alas! As a great artist, it is a tragedy not to offer a song here," beside him, Nero rocked back and forth with a cup, her expression impossible to read—was it disappointment or elation?

Was it really that delicious? Hearing them, Lin Luo was somewhat mystified. He wasn't a king, nor did he possess such refined taste. He could tell if a soft drink was good, but judging fine wine was beyond him. Still, truth be told, the drink from the sparkling loli was quite nice—certainly better than Sprite mixed with MSG...

"Say, Lily, what do you think?" Lin Luo quietly asked the Pure White Knight beside him.

"It's acceptable, I suppose. The first time I've tasted wine like this," Lily murmured, delicately sipping her cup.

"W-wuaah... I'm getting drunk, I'm getting drunk..." The banquet had barely begun, and one of the Kings had already suffered a humiliating defeat. Little Ber, belly distended, was nearly submerged in her goblet, completely incapacitated. This wasn't a contest of decorum, but a battle of spirits. Since everyone present was a King, there was no hierarchy, but Little Ber was simply too small; her entire frame barely exceeded the size of the wine glass, and the first cup had been her limit. Thus... eliminated.

"Do you two want a drink as well?" Noticing everyone else imbibing while Alicefeel and Waver stood aside like statues, Lin Luo felt it was improper and kindly offered them a toast with his cup.

"Huh...?" The two froze. In less than half a second, as they recovered, their heads shook simultaneously like rattle-drums—as if by prior agreement. Are you kidding? This is a King's banquet! Just standing here is suffocating enough, and you want us to sit and drink with these people? Do you think everyone is as simple-minded and bizarre as you are?

When the two souls finally connected, Waver gave Alicefeel a look that clearly conveyed, I want to go home now. Alicefeel returned an identical look: You shouldn't have come, and frankly, neither should I.

"Is that so? What a pity." Since they refused, Lin Luo didn't press the issue. He took another sip, finding it even better than before, and praised, "Truly worthy of the Hero King. A rare delicacy."

He almost let slip "Hero King," but while Nero and Lily knew her true identity, as Nero had noted, keeping secrets among the select few was far more entertaining, and there was no need to broadcast A's identity to everyone.

Though the Hero King was the oldest of monarchs, she lacked mind-reading capabilities, so she couldn't hear Lin Luo's thoughts. If she knew he had compared her wine to Sprite and MSG, she'd likely chop him into pieces.

Thus, the girl who heard only praise sat at her place, swirling her wine, her expression of satisfied pride unconcealed. "Of course. Whether it be wine or swords, my treasury holds only the finest. That is the taste of a King."

The chorus of admiration piqued Ber's curiosity. After tasting the wine, she too admitted it was the best she had ever encountered: potent yet pure, mellow yet refreshing, the intense aroma filling her nostrils, leaving her feeling strangely lightheaded. However, upon hearing the golden-haired girl's boast, she suddenly roared, "What nonsense! I'm tired of hearing you brag about your wine collection. You don't look like a King; you look like a clown!"

The golden-haired girl sneered at the volatile Ber, her face full of disdain. "Hmph. A creature who doesn't understand wine is unworthy of being called a King."

"You are furious."

"Enough, you two are tedious. This isn't the place for you to bicker," the King of Conquerors interjected with a wry smile, motioning to Ber, who was about to speak more. He then turned back to the main topic. "We are now engaged in the Holy Grail Q&A, meant to gauge our qualifications for the Grail. First, you must tell everyone present why you desire the Grail. So, everyone, think as a King and try to convince us who is most worthy."

"A contest decided by the Kingly Way? Hmm, that sounds rather interesting," Nero mused, stroking her chin.

"Each King's Way is different. King of Conquerors, do you truly believe mere words can sway everyone?" Lily presented a differing argument.

"Hmm..." The King of Conquerors paused, then lowered his head in contemplation before nodding. "Indeed. Even if someone else were more worthy, I would not yield. Hah! Then let's dispense with the prerequisite of winning the Grail and simply discuss our respective Kingly Ways."

"Hmph, I can't stand you lot. 'We are going to contest the Grail'—I have no idea how you arrived at that conclusion," the golden-haired girl stated coldly, slamming her wine glass onto the table.

Seeing the confused looks from the others, the girl raised an eyebrow, haughtily declaring, "That should have been mine to begin with. All the world's treasures originate from my collection. It merely slipped out of my vaults long ago, but its ownership remains mine. There is no contest involved."

"So, you're saying you once possessed the Holy Grail? Do you even know what it is?"

Not only the King of Conquerors and the King of Knights were astonished; Lily and Nero also looked taken aback. Though they knew the golden Servant's true identity from Lin Luo, they hadn't heard this detail, so they turned to Lin Luo for clarification.

Lin Luo gave a wry smile. How could he explain this? ...The sparkling loli's completely illogical fit of pique?

"No, this is beyond your comprehension. The sheer volume of my assets exceeds even my own knowledge. But if it is treasure, it absolutely belongs to me. That is crystal clear. To think you'd try to forcibly steal my property... have some self-awareness, hmph hmph hmph," the girl looked down upon them with a cold sneer.

The assembled Kings were momentarily stunned. Ber commented dryly, "Your words are very similar to C's. It seems this mental instability isn't confined to just him."

"Hahaha, isn't that just bragging? If you say it's yours, it's yours. Enough, if I laugh any harder, my head will ache." To Nero, the girl’s statement sounded no different than a petulant child’s tantrum.

"You despicable—what's so funny?" The girl’s face turned ashen with anger.

"Well now, how to put this..." Unlike the others' sarcasm or exasperation, the King of Conquerors mumbled dismissively, "The Lord of Rome seems quite familiar with your identity. Come to think of it, I believe I also know your true name. A King more arrogant than Iskandar... there can only be one."

While the ignorant ones nearby listened intently, the King of Conquerors did not elaborate but switched topics. "Then, A, does that mean if you agree, we can have the Grail?"

"Hey, big guy, you actually bought her foolishness?" Nero looked genuinely disbelieving.

"Hmph. This is not the time for fighting; I can't be bothered with you," A glared fiercely at Nero before turning to the King of Conquerors. "Of course, I can. But I have no reason to bestow gifts upon such riff-raff unless you swear fealty to me. Then, I might toss one or two cups your way."

"Ah, that is impossible for us to do. But A, the Grail probably doesn't matter much to you anyway, right? You aren't seeking it to fulfill some wish." The King of Conquerors shook his head and spoke.

"Naturally. But I cannot let those who stole my treasures go unpunished. It is a matter of principle."

"Hmph, I think you're just being unreasonable!" Nero couldn't stand it any longer. She rose abruptly, her sharp gaze fixed on the golden-haired girl. "Claiming ownership of all the world's treasures, yet never laying eyes on a single one yourself—you should temper that arrogance!"

"You wretch!" A also stood up, her crimson eyes burning with killing intent. "This is the law established by me as a King! If you dare defy my law, prepare to face my judgment!"

"Ha!" Nero let out a dry laugh, utterly unconcerned. "Excellent. Before my absolute Emperor Circle, I should like to see exactly what your judgment entails!"

"Hmph."

"Tch."

Their gazes locked, sparks flying, neither willing to yield an inch.

...The banquet had barely commenced, yet a fierce clash had erupted between two Kings. This terrified Alicefeel and Waver, but when they looked towards the wine table, they saw that Lin Luo, the attendant of one of the Kings, was calmly sipping his drink, occasionally chatting and laughing with the Pure White Knight beside him, or having serious discussions with the King of Conquerors... as if the conflict between A and the red-clothed Ber had nothing to do with him.

The two exchanged baffled glances.

A few minutes later, just as they worried the two Kings might start fighting mid-meal, they saw them already seated back in their places. Though traces of the 'fierce battle' lingered on their faces, their intensity had subsided.

"It is decided, Nero Claudius. I will personally see to your execution!" A downed a cup of wine. Unlike her previous overbearing arrogance, her gaze toward Nero now held more hostility and gravity—she was using her name, not an insult.

"There will be a time. I will personally take your head then." Across from her, Nero exuded a killing intent no less powerful, but it vanished the moment their eyes met again.

Without needing any verbal agreement, everyone present understood: at least for the duration of this Holy Grail War, these two had chosen their rivals. The contemptuous King A and the infamously tyrannical Ruler of Rome, Nero—whose Kingly Way would prove superior would soon be revealed.

The banquet seemed to have split into two factions. A and Nero were seriously vying for dominance. Despite exchanging declarations of war, this was not the time for fighting; even in a drinking contest, neither wished to lose to the other.

On the other side were Lin Luo, Lily, the King of Conquerors, and Ber. They had been unable to insert themselves into the dispute between A and Nero. However, since it was a King's Banquet, as long as they were Kings, no physical confrontation would occur before the feast concluded—that was the basis for their absolute composure.

"A truly perfect King. Able to uphold the laws she sets for herself, unwavering in belief in her Emperor Circle, doubting her Kingly Way not at all. Truly worthy of being a World Sovereign. But ah..." Saying this, the King of Conquerors drained his freshly filled cup and stated soberly, "I still desire the Holy Grail. My way is to take what I want, because I am Iskandar, the King of Conquerors!"

To the King of Conquerors, A and Nero, so deeply convinced of their own ideals, were perfect Kings. But Ber did not see them that way. With a deep tone, she looked up at the King of Conquerors and asked, "King of Conquerors, since you admit the Holy Grail belongs to another, will you still try to seize it by force?"

"Hmm? Of course. My creed is conquest—taking and invasion," the King of Conquerors replied without hesitation.

"You forcibly suppress the anger in your heart and then ask: 'Why do you all desire the Holy Grail?'"

When asked this, the King of Conquerors smiled somewhat bashfully. "To become human."

This was a completely unexpected answer. Except for Lin Luo, not only was the questioner, Ber, stunned, but Lily’s wine glass also trembled slightly. And the King of Conquerors' attendant, Waver, cried out in near-frantic tones, "Y-you still intend to conquer the world?"

"Fool, how can one conquer the world in this lifetime?" He silenced his attendant with a flick of his finger and continued, "Conquest is my personal dream, and the Grail is the vehicle to achieve the first step."

"In other words, you wish to possess a physical body, correct?" Lin Luo looked toward the imposing man before him. Even without knowing the original story, he could grasp the meaning of the King of Conquerors' words: to conquer the world, one needed a body; beings essentially like ghosts, such as Servants, wouldn't suffice.

"Correct." Facing Lin Luo's question, the King of Conquerors offered no denial. "I am dissatisfied. I wish to be reborn in this world and live as a human. Why desire a body so much? Because it is the foundation of conquest."

King of Conquerors Iskandar clenched his fist, looking at the people before him. In that moment, he displayed the majesty of the King of Conquerors for all to see. "To possess a body, to march against heaven and earth, to enact my conquest—that is my Kingly Way! But currently, I lack a body. Without it, nothing can begin. I do not fear anything; I only feel that I must have a body!"

The three listeners at the table fell into a brief silence. Lin Luo felt that regardless of whether the King of Conquerors was a tyrant or a benevolent ruler, there was one thing no one could deny: his sheer presence was enough to stir excitement in anyone.

Lily listened intently, drinking in silence throughout. This quietude earned a degree of tacit approval from the original Ber. However, in her usually calm eyes, a spark of something new appeared—perhaps excitement... or the will to fight?

Different from them, Ber, who had participated in the banquet but hadn't shown a single smile or managed to interject among the others, now had no lingering doubts in her mind.

These few people were too far removed from the Kingly Way she believed in; she couldn't connect with them. To Ber, whose conviction was purity, A, Nero, and even the King of Conquerors were not Kings, but tyrants.

Governing solely by personal will—this was not the thinking of a King. No matter how powerful they were, an unyielding fighting spirit burned in Ber's heart. These three were opponents she absolutely could not lose to; she must never yield the Holy Grail to them.

A's claims were baseless. The Ruler of Rome was also a notoriously brutal tyrant, ruling through the absolute Emperor Circle. And Rider's wish could only be seen as the desire of a mere warrior—the beginning of all human desires. Compared to their aspirations, Ber believed her own desire was far more noble, and she had no doubt about that.

"Hey, Ber, tell us your wish too," the King of Conquerors finally redirected the focus toward Ber.

Here it comes... Looking at the composed, unwavering face of the original King of Knights girl, Lin Luo appeared outwardly calm, but internally, his feelings were complex... A girl clinging to a mistaken wish—how arduous would her path be? Faced with so many Kings, how would she carry on?

"My Kingly Way is my pride," the girl declared, head held high, looking directly at everyone. Her wish had never wavered. "I want to save my homeland. I must change the destiny that led to Britain's ruin."

After she spoke resolutely, the group was silent for a long time. Even A and Nero, over on the other side, paused their argument when they heard the King of Knights speak, their gazes turning towards her, leaving them speechless.

The first to break the silence was the King of Conquerors, confusion evident on his face. "King of Knights, did we hear that right? You mean to change destiny? To overturn history?"

"Yes. No matter how difficult the wish, the omnipotent Holy Grail can surely achieve it," Ber asserted proudly. Only now did Ber realize why the atmosphere among them felt so strange—the scene had instantly turned frigid.

"I wish to confirm—the destruction of Britain occurred during your reign, did it not?" The King of Conquerors waved a hand and inquired.

"Yes. That is why I cannot forgive myself," Ber replied, her tone growing firmer. "That is why I am so unwilling, I wish to change that outcome, because I caused that ending."

Unintentionally, a burst of laughter erupted—a laugh devoid of thought or comprehension, casual and unrestrained. It naturally came from A, who radiated golden light.

Faced with such profound humiliation, Ber's face flushed with anger. The thing she cherished most was being mocked by A. "What are you laughing at?!"

Ignoring Ber's fury, the golden-haired, crimson-eyed girl sputtered through her laughter, "Someone who calls herself King and is praised by all people, yet still feels regret? Hahahaha! How can that not be amusing? A masterpiece, Ber! You are the greatest clown!"

"I..." Nero seemed about to speak but was held back by Lin Luo, who signaled her to listen with his eyes.

Nero looked displeased but ultimately did not object, continuing to drink her frustrations away while listening to the exchange.

Beside the incessantly laughing golden girl, the King of Conquerors also frowned, watching Ber with displeasure. "Wait, King of Knights, wait. Are you intending to negate the history you created?"

Ber, who had never doubted her ideals, was not taken aback by his question. "Precisely. Are you surprised? Amused? The nation I dedicated myself to as King was destroyed. Is mourning it wrong?"

A's response was another peal of loud laughter. She spread her hands, her contempt and mockery evident in her eyes. "Hey, hey, did you hear that? This little girl calling herself the King of Knights is talking about dedicating herself to her country! Hahahaha..."

A's laughter was met with silence from everyone else. For Ber, this silence was as insulting as the mockery. Her face flushed red as she struggled to defend her ideal. "I don't see what's so funny. As a King, one naturally stands forward and strives for the prosperity of their nation!"

"You are wrong," Rider stated, denying her words with stern resolve. "It is not the King who dedicates himself; it is the nation and the people who devote everything to the King. Do not mistake that point."

"What did you say?" Ber could no longer suppress the anger surging within her, and she shouted, "Isn't that the definition of a tyrant? The way you all act as Kings is the greatest mistake!"

"Indeed, but we are not merely tyrants; we are heroes as well," the King of Conquerors stated calmly, his eyebrows utterly unmoving, for there was no need to doubt that the kingly path he walked was the very definition of truth. "Therefore, Saber, if a king is dissatisfied with the outcome of his reign, it only proves he is a degenerate ruler, worse than any tyrant."

Unlike Arer, who was relentlessly mocking Saber, Rider fundamentally rejected the core concept of the King of Knights.

Frowning deeply, she countered with a sharp tone, "Iskandar, your empire—the one you single-handedly forged—was ultimately split into four domains. Do you feel absolutely no regret about that? Don't you wish to start over, to save your nation?"

"I do not," the King of Conquerors replied instantly without hesitation, puffing out his chest, his face showing no trace of guilt, meeting the Knight King's severe gaze head-on. "If my decisions and those of my retainers led to such an outcome, then destruction was inevitable. I will mourn, and I will weep, but I will never regret it."

"How can that be? I hardly believe these are words a king should utter!"

The King of Conquerors advanced, his words like honed blades, "Not to mention that attempting to subvert history is such a foolish act, an insult to every human being within the era I constructed."

In absolute denial of the Conqueror King's proud declaration, Saber would not waver from her own beliefs, declaring loudly, "You only speak that way out of warrior's pride. The people do not think as you do; what they require is salvation."

"You mean they want the King's salvation?" He shrugged, letting out a burst of dismissive laughter, as if her words were beneath contempt. "I don't understand. What meaning does such a thing possess?"

"That is the duty of a king," Saber asserted proudly this time, straightening her back. "Correct governance, correct order—that is what all subjects anticipate."

"Then are you merely the perfect slave?" The King of Conquerors glared suddenly, demanding harshly.

"You may call it that. To dedicate oneself to an ideal is what qualifies one to be a king," the young Knight King stated, showing no retreat or doubt as she laid out her kingly philosophy. "Through the King, the people learn law and order. What the King embodies should not be something that vanishes along with the King's demise, but something far more noble."

Looking at the steadfast Saber, the King of Conquerors shook his head as if pitying her. "That is not a path of survival a human would choose."

"Yes. Having been born a King, one cannot possibly hope for an ordinary life." On this point, Saber offered no objection; instead, she nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

To become the perfect monarch, to be the embodiment of the ideal, she was willing to cast aside her physical self and relinquish personal sentiment. The life of the girl named Artoria changed irrevocably the moment she drew that sword from the stone. From that point forward, she became synonymous with undefeatable legend, hymns, and dreams. There had been pain, there had been struggle, but they were intertwined with the glory of victory. Her unwavering conviction was what supported the arm that gripped her sword even now.

So, Saber shouted fiercely at the man before her, "King of Conquerors, a man concerned only with himself, like you, could never comprehend my conviction. You are merely a tyrant blinded by desire."

The reprimanded Rider’s eyes immediately widened, and she retorted with equal fury, "A king without desire is worse than a decorative vase."

This banquet seemed to have devolved into a clash of ideologies between the King of Conquerors and the King of Knights. Before Saber could respond, the King of Conquerors pressed his point again, "You spoke of dedicating oneself to an ideal? Indeed, you were once a pure saint, so holy that none could surpass you. But who truly yearns for martyrdom for the sake of an ideal? Who dreams night and day of a so-called saint who can only soothe the people but cannot guide them?"

He spread his arms as if to embrace heaven and earth, pressing toward Saber with an imposing aura he had never before displayed. "Only by displaying desire and celebrating the utmost splendor can a nation and its people be led down the true path. As a king, one must possess stronger desires than anyone, be more magnificent than anyone, and be more easily angered than anyone. He must be a real human being encompassing both purity and corruption. Only then will the subjects be awed by the King, and only then will the people harbor the yearning, 'If only I were the King...'"

"If that is governance, then where is justice?" Saber was not swayed by his imposing aura, gripping her fists and demanding through gritted teeth.

"Where there is no Kingly Way, there is no such thing as justice, and therefore, no regret," the King of Conquerors declared.

Such a blunt assertion left Saber furious; her fundamental principle was the happiness of the people, yet their philosophies diverged so widely... one praying for peace, the other desiring prosperity.

A king who suppressed chaos versus a king who incited warfare—naturally, their ideals could not align.

The King of Conquerors suddenly smiled, speaking with robust openness, "King bearing the name of Knight—your justice and ideals may have saved your nation and people for a time, which is why your name is still sung in praise today. However, you must know what fate awaited those you saved."

"What... what are you saying?" The fierce momentum that had previously repelled the young girl's aggression suddenly vanished, replaced by a change in her expression when the Conqueror spoke without any aggression whatsoever... The Hill of Fallen Swords.

That scene instantly resurfaced in Saber's mind.

"You ceaselessly saved your subjects, yet you never guided them. They did not know what the King’s desire was. You abandoned your lost subjects, indulging alone in the sanctity of your own petty ideal. That is why you are not a qualified king. You are merely a little girl who tied herself in knots trying to become the King who cared for the people—an idol." The King of Conquerors spoke calmly, yet his words had already reduced the Knight King's beliefs and ideals to worthlessness.

"I..." She had so many retorts ready, but every time she opened her mouth, the scene she witnessed at the Bay of Golden Lilies flashed before her eyes. Bodies piled high, rivers of blood, her subjects, her friends, and her own kin lying there.

She had learned of the prophecy the moment she drew the sword from the rock. She knew it signified ruin; she had already resolved herself to it. But why... why did seeing the carnage with her own eyes cause such shock? She felt utterly powerless beyond just offering prayers.

A Magus had also prophesied that subverting it was almost impossible, yet she still wished—if a miracle could truly happen... Suddenly, a dangerous thought seized Saber’s mind.

If, instead of being the savior protecting Britain, she had been the Overlord conquering Britain, the chaotic times would only have descended into further disorder through war. First, this was not the kingly path she adhered to. Moreover, viewed from any perspective, the individual named Artoria would never choose that option.

But if she truly had acted that way, which outcome would be more tragic compared to the Battle of Camlann?

"I..." Looking at the King of Conquerors, who spoke fluently, entirely without doubt regarding his own ideals or his Kingly Way, she suddenly found herself unable to offer a rebuttal.

"See? This is you..."

"Enough," the King of Conquerors sighed, about to say more, but suddenly, a table was slammed hard, and a figure entirely clad in white stood up.

Gazing at the astonished faces of the King of Conquerors and the King of Knights, Lily’s face twisted with a touch of anger, and she spoke in a low voice, "I have grown sick of hearing your respective Kingly Ways. If this is how you define kingship, then in my eyes... neither of you deserves to be a king."

The perfect king from the fantasy world launched an uncompromising assault upon them both.

"What did you say?" Whether the King of Knights or the King of Conquerors, such an insult was utterly intolerable. They both turned their furious gazes toward the pure white girl almost simultaneously.

"Is that not true?" Lily completely ignored their rising fury, looking down upon them both. "One reigns through self-sacrifice, the other reigns through self-indulgence. One is a self-righteous saint, the other is an unadulterated tyrant. Therefore, neither of you is fit to be a king."

Saber was speechless with rage. If previously the King of Conquerors failed to understand her Kingly Way, it was only met with anger. But now, this "self" from another world was utterly devaluing her own path to kingship...

"You are not me! You are absolutely not me!" Saber pointed at Lily and roared.

"Of course I am not you. Although I was born reliant on you, the person I am now is entirely different from you, which is why I dare to say..." Lily paused, then stated firmly, "King of Knights, your wish is fundamentally flawed."

Flawed. Flawed. Flawed...

Lily's undisguised rebuke caused Saber to instinctively take a step back. Never in her life had she doubted her ideal; she believed it to be absolutely correct, something she must achieve. Even facing the King of Conquerors and being misunderstood by him was acceptable. But...

Why was even "herself" refuting her?

"Hmm?" At that moment, the young girl’s expression suddenly changed. It wasn't because of Lily's words, but because she sensed an anomaly in the surrounding air.

"It seems we have other guests arriving."

She was not the only one who felt it. Someone sneered.

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