"Caren, you've grown so big already?"
Leading Caren to sit on a nearby sofa, Irisviel spoke to her as if she were her own daughter.
Feeling somewhat helpless in the face of Irisviel's warmth, Caren's nature was actually quite similar to her father Kirei's… she wasn't very good at rejecting others' kindness.
But Irisviel was the one who had given her the gift left by Ryuya when she was a child, so she felt at a loss about how to act towards her savior.
Awkwardly and stiffly, she told Irisviel about her life over the years. Caren's experiences made Irisviel feel that this girl was like a lonely soul, walking through the world without ever having a true home.
Frowning slightly, Irisviel said softly, "Then, Caren, since you are also a participant in this Holy Grail War, how about joining our team?"
"Enkidu and Gilgamesh have a good relationship too, right?"
Glancing at Enkidu, who was nearby trying to force-feed the remaining durian to Female Gil, Irisviel smiled.
"Enkidu and Gilgamesh? The relationship between the two oldest kings is certainly good, but..."
Looking towards Ryuya, who was telling a children's story to Illya, Caren gently shook her head, "Irisviel-sama, I also wish to do my best in this war, so please allow me to fight on my own!"
"You child... you don't need to be so serious."
Smiling at the bowing Caren, Irisviel quickly waved her hands, "If it's your own wish, then just act according to it."
"In life, isn't the most important thing to have no regrets?"
Irisviel's approachability was off the charts as she smiled at Caren.
Caren: "Irisviel-sama... I..."
"No need for that, Master. I will help you properly too."
Suddenly stepping forward, rubbing Caren's head, and hooking an arm around her Master's neck with one hand while stuffing the last piece of durian into Caren's mouth with the other, Enkidu laughed.
"How about it?"
…
At the Holy Church...
"Gilgamesh, you should agree with my proposal, shouldn't you?"
As immense divinity intruded upon the Holy Church, its powerful bounded fields were shattered in moments.
Accompanied by Souichirou and his Servant, the second-generation God King of Uruk, the once supreme authority in the land of Mesopotamia, the god Marduk, their purpose was the impending Holy Grail War.
Wanting to ally with the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, Marduk had received information about the previous battle in Snowfield City. He was convinced Ryuya would appear again in this Holy Grail War, and he intended to use all his power to exact revenge on that man.
And the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, this man who never knew the meaning of hiding, who moved through Snowfield City like a brilliant radiance, was his first potential ally.
"An alliance? I refuse."
Gilgamesh discourteously tossed aside Marduk's olive branch. He drank his fine wine by himself, not even offering a cup to Marduk or Kuzuki, showing that in his eyes, these two weren't even worthy of being called 'guests'.
"Refuse me? Why, Gilgamesh?"
A flicker of confusion passed through Marduk's deep gray eyes as he pressed on, "If I'm not mistaken, you were also defeated by that man in the last war. Given that, our positions should be the same. I truly don't understand why you would refuse."
Through the memories provided by Alaya, Marduk had seen Gilgamesh's previous defeat. He didn't understand why the King of Heroes would reject what should be like manna from heaven for him.
"Why? How laughable."
As if hearing a great joke, the corner of Gilgamesh's mouth lifted into a mocking smile aimed at Marduk.
"The only companion I acknowledge, across heaven and earth, throughout all ages, is ultimately just one person: my dear friend Enkidu."
"What thing are you, Marduk, to think you can form an alliance with me?"
Instead of getting angry at Gilgamesh's insult, Marduk laughed, "Ahaha... What thing am I?"
Magical energy, divine power, and divinity surged from him violently until the warning alarm from his watch sounded, forcing him to stop.
His tone low, his expression steady, he threatened Gilgamesh in a hushed voice, "Foolish. No wonder you failed in your world."
"It seems I need to find new companions."
Knowing that this Gilgamesh was the King of Heroes from a different world, largely unrelated to his own, Marduk had assumed the animosity between them wouldn't be high, which is why he approached him.
But now it seemed he had overthought it. This Gilgamesh was just like the Urukians from his world… utterly hopeless.
"Foolish? A failure? Truly ridiculous."
Gilgamesh's crimson eyes remained unmoved by Marduk's provocation. He simply shook his head calmly, as he was no longer that immature self.
"The people of Uruk resisted the gods alongside me. They were an absolutely excellent people."
"Although you and I are not from the same world, if I were to ally with a creature like you for the sake of victory, then I might as well have surrendered back in Uruk long ago."
Not concealing his disgust for Marduk, Gilgamesh continued, "What I despise was never you personally, Marduk. What I despise is your so-called gods, your lofty essence that looks down on humanity."
"Further words are useless. Leave. When the Holy Grail War officially begins, I will be the first to slay you!"
Faced with Gilgamesh's rebuke, Marduk laughed instead of growing angry.
"Fine, King of Heroes. I'll await your arrival then."
"Hahaha... Hahahaha...."
Outside the Holy Church...
Watching the intense argument inside, Marisbury Animusphere, the first director of Chaldea, turned his gaze to his Servant beside him.
"Solomon, what do you think?"
"What do I think? I just feel that this King of Heroes... seems to have some integrity. Master, shall we go meet him?"
Smiling, Solomon expressed his thoughts to his Master.