"I'll go check it out. Stay close to me."
Irisviel nodded, following Saber as she moved to confront the intruder.
She knew the safest place on the battlefield was by Artoria's side.
"That thunder and unrestrained force... it's likely the King of Conqueror." Artoria said.
They hurried through the dilapidated castle, reaching a balcony overlooking the grand hall, waiting for the intruder's arrival.
"I think so too." Irisviel agreed, recalling the power of the Noble Phantasm Gordius Wheel from the warehouse district two nights ago.
The thunder-wreathed divine bull chariot.
If such an anti-army Noble Phantasm was fully unleashed, it wouldn't be surprising for it to uproot the forest's magical array.
"Hey, King of Knights!" A voice boomed. "I came all this way for you... come out already!"
As expected, the bold voice echoing through the hall was Iskandar, the King of Conqueror.
Artoria, mid-stride, transformed her suit into silver-white armor, ready for battle.
"Yo, Saber." Iskandar greeted. "Heard you built a castle, so I came to check it out."
"Tch, tch, tch." He clicked his tongue, rubbing his chin. "Kinda disappointing. This place feels a bit… rundown."
"Still!" He added. "A castle's a castle."
"You don't mind if I borrow it for a banquet, do you?"
Iskandar's shameless words left both women struggling to keep their composure.
"Rider, you…" Artoria caught the meaning behind his words.
He wasn't here to pick a fight.
"You caused all this commotion just to say that?" She snapped, glaring at him. "And stop claiming other people's things!"
"Now, now." Iskandar said, scratching the back of his head with a toothy grin. "Since I helped clear some trees from your gate, how about lending me the place?"
"Doesn't it feel like the view's much better without those trees in the yard?"
You... !
If Artoria weren't so principled and Irisviel weren't a refined lady, they might have cursed him outright for his brazen self-praise.
"What do you want?!" Artoria demanded. "Give me a good reason, or my sword won't show mercy!"
"Idiot, idiot, idiot!" Waver poked his head out from behind Iskandar. "I told you to ask first!"
"Haha, no time for that!" Iskandar ignored Waver, hoisting a wine barrel. "Relax, relax, I'm not here to fight."
"Then what?"
"Can't you tell?" Iskandar patted the barrel, grinning. "This is tonight's wine!"
"Come on, don't just stand there... lead the way. Don't you have a garden suitable for a banquet?"
"This dusty old castle is unbearable."
Each of Iskandar's words stabbed at Irisviel's heart.
Even her gentle temperament flared with the urge to take him down with her.
This guy was too much!
"Is this a trap?"
"He doesn't seem like the type to use petty tricks."
"Is he really just here to drink?"
On the way to the courtyard, Irisviel whispered to Artoria.
Thinking back, Iskandar had publicly declared he wouldn't fight Saber until her duel with Lancer was settled.
If that was a vow made on his honor as a Heroic Spirit, a surprise attack tonight made no sense.
"Could he be trying to win your favor for a sneak attack?" Irisviel wondered.
"No, Irisviel, you don't understand." Artoria said, having seen through Iskandar's intent.
She lowered her battle stance, but her expression grew more serious.
"This is a challenge issued by a king."
"I am a king, and so is he."
Artoria continued, "If he knows our identities and still wants to drink with me, this is a 'battle' without weapons."
"Haha!" Iskandar laughed, seeing Saber catch on. "Exactly!"
"If you don't want to cross blades, then raise glasses, King of Knights!"
"Tonight, I'll test your kingly mettle. Are you ready?"
"Interesting. I accept." Artoria said resolutely, her face radiating the same valor as on the battlefield.
"This…"
Irisviel realized this wasn't a jest but the start of a true contest.
The chosen venue was the castle's central garden courtyard.
Untouched by the previous night's battle, it was a decent spot to host guests without embarrassment.
"Shall we begin?" Artoria asked, sitting cross-legged opposite Iskandar in the garden's center.
"Wait, one more guest hasn't arrived."
"Another guest?"
"This Holy Grail War has more than just you and me as kings." Iskandar said.
"Could it be?!"
The word 'king' instantly brought a name to Artoria's mind, "Solomon…"
She immediately thought of Damien, whom Kiritsugu had mentioned.
Of course, she deliberately ignored a certain arrogant lamppost king.
That guy was far too haughty.
Artoria had no interest in inviting him to her home.
"I hope I'm not late."
As Artoria reeled, Damien's figure appeared in the courtyard, unnoticed until now.
"Our first meeting, huh, Ahoge King?"
Damien took a seat facing east, closely studying Artoria's heroic demeanor.
Upon his arrival, Irisviel and Artoria's gazes locked onto him, as if trying to see through him.
This is the legendary King Solomon?
Even Irisviel, a homunculus, had to admit Damien's appearance was striking.
He seemed less human and more like a god walking among mortals.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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