"Creating a legend unique to Camelot?"
Lost in thought while looking at Ryuya, amidst the excitement of the other girls, only Blue Artoria stood out as incongruous.
Lacking the magnanimity of a king, Blue Artoria from her world was less like a monarch and more like a knight, a king born from the expectations of her people.
"As a king? Did I do something wrong?"
She had never truly contemplated her life as a king. In Blue Artoria's view, everything she did was for Camelot. Yet, despite this, she faced betrayal, which troubled her deeply.
During her years at the Einzbern Castle, Irisviel couldn't provide much help regarding this, leaving her constantly somewhat vexed.
Now, after hearing about Ryuya's past deeds, Blue Artoria found it hard to believe this was a king's history. She felt admiration, yearning, doubt, and even began questioning her own self-perception.
"As a king, you are not yet qualified."
This statement came from Camelot Artoria.
"Not qualified?" Blinking, Blue Artoria looked at her alternate-world self. "What did I do wrong?"
"Everything is wrong." Rarely appearing so serious, Artoria spoke sternly, "As a king, you stubbornly took all responsibility upon yourself, never trusting your people."
"As a king, you treated all of Camelot as a machine, without considering human hearts."
"As a king, you believed being excellent enough would make your people follow you, but you never considered whether your people were willing to follow such an emotionless king."
Each word struck at Blue Artoria's heart. More than anyone else, Artoria was undoubtedly the best teacher, the one most capable of making Blue Artoria reflect on herself.
As the two conversed, the other girls present tacitly gave them space. Compared to the conversation between the two Artorias, they preferred to spend more time with Ryuya.
"Papa, look at this."
They fought when it was time to fight, but after the battle, they were family again.
Despite the fierce fight earlier between Arcueid, Altrouge, Nero, Morgan, and Artoria, none of them were dwelling on it now.
They lost, and none of them were poor losers.
After washing off the dust from the battle and returning to the living room, Arcueid found her father's embrace already occupied by a certain shut-in.
Not only that, but Ryuya's immediate left and right were taken by Sakura and Rin, a bit further out were Eriri and Morgan, and Hayasaka... the professional maid was standing behind Ryuya.
Finding no spot for themselves, Arcueid and Altrouge exchanged a glance, then went to sit on the carpet beside Ryuya's legs, clearly not wanting to be too far from him.
"Look at what?"
"Look... at the TV program."
Although it was a different world, Snowfield City had developed quite well over the past twenty years. Pointing at the program on TV, Arcueid was clearly making conversation.
"You silly girl."
Ryuya smiled wryly, then glanced outside at the still rainy weather. He wondered what the other girls were doing and why they hadn't returned yet.
Especially Ereshkigal and Siduri. They were summoned by Arcueid and Altrouge, and had gone out with Tiamat, so they should have been back by now.
And Female Gil and Enkidu, Crimson Moon and Hope, and Vivian...
Pondering whether to go find them, he could sense their magical fluctuations were stable, suggesting they hadn't encountered any battles.
Meanwhile, inside Kirei's church.
"King of Heroes, you are quite lucky."
Just as that hand was about to pierce Gilgamesh's chest, the battle countdown ended.
Looking at Gilgamesh, who had escaped by a hair's breadth, Marduk regretfully lowered his hand.
It wasn't that he was following the rules, but because a dark figure was watching not far away.
"Today's battle is over. For now, Kotomine Kirei, King of Heroes Gilgamesh, Kuzuki Souichirou, Mesopotamian God King Marduk, you may rest."
Golden eyes scrutinized Gilgamesh, who lay on the ground in a disheveled state. Jalter, acting as referee for this Holy Grail War and empowered by Alaya, possessed the strength of a Planetary Singularity.
In her view, Marduk, the second-generation God King from Mesopotamia, was undoubtedly powerful. Being only slightly weaker than a Planetary Singularity, it was surprising he hadn't defeated Gilgamesh within the allotted time.
"Cough... cough..."
Ignoring Jalter, Gilgamesh's golden hair was now matted with dirt and blood, his golden armor scattered in pieces around the church.
His magical energy and injuries were severe. Holding off Marduk's assault with his strength as a Grand Servant candidate had taken everything he had.
"You... with strength like this, which world's Marduk are you?"
His hatred for and understanding of the god Marduk ran deep. In the King of Heroes' world, he too had been defeated by Marduk.
Well aware of Marduk's power, Gilgamesh believed Marduk's combat ability was originally similar to his own. If not for Enkidu's death and the descent of numerous gods back then, Uruk might not have fallen.
After this Holy Grail War began, he, staying with Kirei, was immediately confronted by Marduk. Initially confident in his own power, especially after twenty years of rigorous training hoping to challenge Ryuya, Gilgamesh was shocked to find Marduk had grown so much stronger.
Barely managing to withstand Marduk, the current Gilgamesh lacked the arrogance and insolence of twenty years ago. Now, he pondered what he must do to utterly defeat his mortal enemy, Marduk.