"I usually drink blood,"
Dracula said with half-lidded eyes.
"Oh come on, don't be like that," Gilgamesh said, pouring him a glass anyway. "Just give it a try. It's really good."
Before Dracula could answer, Saber snapped at a certain phrase:
"Wait a second—you said blood?! You mean human blood? You bastard—"
"No shit. I'm a vampire. What else would I drink, orange juice?"
Dracula gave her a look that screamed are you stupid?
"Besides, it's not like I kill people for it. Chill."
"Saber, calm down."
Irisviel tugged at her sleeve and whispered:
"I've heard there's a mage family named Belmont. Their magecraft involves blood consumption… but they usually just buy it."
So that's the 'background identity' the Counter Force mentioned… Took them long enough to bring it up.
Dracula thought.
Feels like they just tacked it on at the last minute.
"Okay okay, enough side chatter. Let's get back on track,"
Iskandar tried to smooth things over.
Saber sat back down.
Once all four rulers were seated, the King of Conquerors spoke again:
"Archer, your exquisite wine indeed deserves to be paired with a treasure like the Grail—but sadly, the Grail is not a wine cup. This is a test to determine who is truly worthy of it. So, tell us: why do you, Archer, desire the Holy Grail? Speak now, as a king, and convince us you deserve it."
"Ugh, you're insufferable. First of all, we're supposed to fight over the Grail. Your question totally misses the point."
Gilgamesh sighed.
"Hmm?"
Iskandar raised an eyebrow.
Gilgamesh continued:
"Originally, it belonged to me. All treasures in this world trace back to my vault. It may have been lost over time, but ownership remains mine."
"You're saying you had the Holy Grail? You know what it is?"
"No," Gilgamesh continued calmly, "this isn't something you can understand. The total sum of my wealth exceeds even my own comprehension. But as long as it's a 'treasure'… then without question, it belongs to me. That much is clear."
"So in other words, Golden Sparkles, the Holy Grail doesn't really matter to you. You're not after it to make some wish, are you?" Rider mused, stroking his chin.
"Of course not. But I cannot allow my treasures to fall into others' hands. That's a matter of principle."
Gilgamesh didn't even pause before answering.
"So this is your law, then?"
"Yes. It is the law I have set as king: all treasures of the world belong to me. And should anyone dare defy that truth… they will be punished."
Gilgamesh declared it with chilling composure.
"A perfect king, through and through. One who lives by his own decree. But I still want the Grail, you know. My method is simple—if I want something, I take it. After all, I am Iskandar, the King of Conquerors!"
Rider grinned boldly.
Their gazes clashed, sparks flying in the silence. Gilgamesh let out a low, derisive chuckle.
"As expected. I knew from the start—you would stand in my way."
"Then I suppose it comes down to strength."
Rider laughed heartily, eyes gleaming.
"Still, Golden Sparkles, let's drink for now. Save the fight for later."
"Naturally. Unless you've brought some swill unworthy of my taste?"
"Now you're just being insulting. As if I'd skimp on wine."
Off to the side, Saber watched the two with visible confusion. Were they enemies? Or friends? She couldn't tell anymore. Unable to hold back, she finally asked:
"King of Conquerors… If you already acknowledge that the Grail belongs to another, will you still resort to force to take it?"
"Huh? Of course I will. My belief is conquest—meaning plunder and invasion." Iskandar answered as if it were obvious.
Saber clenched her fists, suppressing her rising anger.
"Then tell me—why do you want the Holy Grail?"
Faced with Saber's question, Rider finally revealed his wish, albeit with some hesitation.
He desired… a mortal body.
A surprising desire—and one that made Gilgamesh narrow his eyes with clear and undeniable killing intent.
When Rider finished, he suddenly turned his gun toward Saber.
"Come on, Saber. What about you? What's your wish?"
Saber puffed out her chest with proud resolve.
"I want to save my homeland. I want to change the fate of Britain's fall."
Her words dropped like a stone into still water. Silence overtook the room, broken only by the soft clicking of Dracula's game console.
Rider finally spoke again, his face oddly pensive.
"You mean… to change fate? You want to rewrite history?"
"Yes. No matter how impossible the wish may seem, with the Holy Grail, it can be done!"
Saber asserted with conviction. And now she finally understood why the atmosphere between the other two had felt so tense all along. The mood took a sharp turn.
"Hey, Saber. Just to be clear… Britain's destruction happened during your time, right? When you were king?"
"Yes! And that is why I cannot forgive myself."
Saber's voice grew stronger.
"That outcome was my doing. I refuse to accept it. I want to change it!"
Someone burst out laughing—a crass, unrestrained laugh that cut through the tension like a blade. The source of the laughter? Archer, bathed in a golden glow.
"You're… hilarious. That tortured expression of yours—it's exquisite!"
Gilgamesh wiped away a tear of laughter, eyes gleaming with dark desire.
"You look like a virgin showered in flower petals on a wedding bed—I like that. So, how about it? Come join my harem. If I'm in a good mood, I might even make you my queen."
She hadn't even finished her vulgar teasing when a voice interrupted her from behind—soft, gentle, yet shockingly familiar.
"What's got you laughing so hard, Gil? Come on, tell me—I want in on the joke too."
The voice belonged to a green-haired beauty—the only person Gilgamesh had ever called a friend.
Enkidu stepped lightly into the room.
At the same time, Arash quietly appeared at Irisviel's side.
"Sorry," Arash muttered. "I couldn't stop her."
Enkidu sat beside Gilgamesh with a natural grace, a soft smile on his lips.
"En… Enkidu." Gilgamesh murmured, stunned.
"Yes. We finally meet again, Gil." Enkidu smiled warmly. "I've missed you."
"Ha… Hahaha… Hahahaha!"
Gilgamesh broke into wild, manic laughter.
"Oi, Archer—have you gone mad?" Saber asked warily.
"Huh? Who are you?"
Gilgamesh turned toward her with blank indifference.
"Do we… know each other?"