"What! Isn't your dream to conquer the world?!"
Waver, who had been observing from the shadows, jumped out, only to be sent into a peaceful slumber by a light flick to the forehead from Iskandar.
Iskandar let out a hearty laugh, puffing out his chest. "Conquering the world is my dream, of course! But such a dream is only meaningful if I achieve it with my own hands. Seizing the Holy Grail is merely my first step!"
He looked at his hands thoughtfully. "We who have descended as Heroic Spirits exist merely by relying on magical energy. Without a physical body, how can we endure?"
"I want to become a true living being, to take root in this world, and use my life to challenge heaven and earth!"
Such a dream... was practical, but wasn't it a bit too insignificant?
Not only Gilgamesh, but even Artoria frowned.
The Holy Grail shouldn't be a magic that existed for such a trivial wish...
"And what about you?" Iskandar turned to look at the calm-faced young woman. "Why do you seek the Holy Grail? Is it for your country, or for your unshakable chivalry?"
Artoria straightened her back, her voice as crisp as clashing steel. "I seek the Holy Grail to change the fate of Britain's destruction."
"I want to pray for a miracle to spare my people from the suffering of war, to return the Stone of Selection to that very first day, and choose a king more perfect than myself."
The King of Britain...
Tokiomi Tohsaka, monitoring the scene through Assassin, twitched his brow, seemingly having guessed Saber's identity.
In the courtyard, Gilgamesh revealed a look of astonishment before bursting into a fit of laughter that bordered on unseemly.
"Hahahaha! Amusing! This is truly too amusing!"
He pointed at Artoria, his shoulders trembling with laughter. "I originally thought you were just an interesting idealist, but to think you are actually a self-denying lunatic!"
"What is so funny!" Artoria angrily gripped the hilt of her sword. "If my failure led to the destruction of my kingdom, then it is my responsibility to correct it!"
"No, little girl, you are wrong."
Iskandar also spoke up. "A king does not need to answer to anyone. A king only needs to display their true nature."
"A so-called king should be greedier than anyone, more wrathful than anyone, and more ambitious than anyone."
"A king must live a more brilliant life than anyone else. Only then will their subjects be captivated by the king, revere the king, and even harbor the thought of becoming a king themselves as they follow in the king's footsteps!"
Artoria clearly could not comprehend such a statement, her brows furrowed tightly. "Truly the words of a tyrant. Incomprehensible."
"This is the caliber of a king, King of Knights."
Gilgamesh snapped his fingers, interrupting this debate on kingship. "Since we are on the topic of desires and caliber, then we must discuss business."
"The reason I summoned you here is to give you an opportunity."
His gaze swept over the two, lingering on Artoria for an extra second.
"An opportunity... to prove your worth before you are purged by me."
"What do you think of that Avenger?"
Hearing this name, the atmosphere at the scene slightly froze.
"That kid in black?" Iskandar scratched his head. "He's a formidable guy, especially that sword that can devour magical energy. It's practically cheating."
"Not only that," Gilgamesh said coldly. "That guy is a Class that shouldn't exist. His very existence is a provocation to the rules of the Holy Grail War."
"The Holy Church has already made a judgment. He is not a proper Heroic Spirit, but some sort of filth that has mixed in."
"And now, he has joined forces with the Matou Family, who are also participants."
Gilgamesh sat up straight, exuding a suffocating aura of intimidation.
"That boring man, Tokiomi, proposed that we form a temporary alliance to first eliminate that arrogant Avenger."
"Although it is a dull proposal, I feel that to ensure the purity of the Holy Grail War, it is indeed worth considering."
He looked at the two, an arrogant curve forming on his lips. "How about it? First, we completely eradicate this Avenger and his Master. After that, we can decide who the true king is."
"If you perform well enough, I might consider bestowing a few treasures upon you as a reward."
As expected, he was met with a bout of silence.
A moment later, Iskandar was the first to break the silence. "Sorry, but while that kid is strange, he doesn't seem like some evil villain."
The King of Conquerors set down his wine cup, his expression turning serious.
"His sword is pure. To protect that ordinary woman, he didn't hesitate to put himself in danger."
"Such a person might be berserk, might be dangerous, but he is absolutely not some filth that needs to be purged."
"Besides..." Iskandar grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Several kings joining forces to bully a Heroic Spirit without a proper title? I could never do something so degrading!"
"True conquest means defeating your opponent fair and square! Not engaging in these petty, underhanded tricks!"
Gilgamesh glanced at him. "Oh? So you refuse?"
He turned to look at Artoria. "And what about you, King of Knights? That guy severely injured your rival's Master and even displayed extremely cruel methods. Do you also intend to shelter such a scoundrel?"
Artoria took a deep breath, her emerald eyes looking straight at Gilgamesh.
"I admit, Avenger's methods are indeed somewhat too extreme, and the aura around him makes me uncomfortable."
"However, as a knight, I believe in fair duels."
Artoria's voice was crisp and resolute, like a drawn sword.
"If he truly is an evil existence, I will use the sword in my hand to defeat him on the battlefield, rather than participating in a despicable siege through such a conspiracy."
"That goes against my chivalry."
The refusal of the two kings did not exceed Gilgamesh's expectations.
One could even say this was exactly the result he wanted to see.
"Hahaha... Hahahaha!"
Gilgamesh suddenly began to laugh, the sound filled with amusement and mockery.
"As expected, you lot are all adorably stubborn."
"Although you call yourselves kings, you ultimately still can't break free from those boring rules and restrictions, can you?"
He stood up, and his throne shattered, golden particles dancing around him.
"However... King of Knights."
Gilgamesh's figure flashed, unexpectedly teleporting directly in front of Artoria.
The distance between them was less than a meter. That intense masculine aura and kingly pressure made Artoria instinctively grip the hilt of her sword.
"What are you trying to do, Archer?" Artoria asked warily.
Gilgamesh ignored her hostility, simply using those crimson, snake-like eyes to brazenly appraise the young woman with noble resolve standing before him.
"I am very interested in you. Your distressed appearance is truly a sight to behold, much like a deflowered virgin on a bed."
"You!!" Artoria was truly enraged, wind pressure surging around her.
Gilgamesh's voice became deep and magnetic, as if carrying a demonic temptation.
"The Holy Grail is nothing more than one of my countless treasures. What is the point of pursuing such a thing?!"
"Marry me, become my queen, and from this day forward, exist solely for me."
"If you do, I shall, in the name of the King of All Creation, bestow upon you all the joy and pleasure in this world."