Caster was destroyed, leaving not a trace behind as he was swept away by the radiance of the holy sword. Such light would draw a sigh of wonder from anyone who saw it.
"It was too dazzling."
After this battle, the alliance among the Servants could be said to have dissolved, but no one was tactless enough to start fighting immediately.
Rider came flying over in his chariot, laughing heartily. After reaching the shore, he grabbed Waver, who had nearly fainted from the holy sword's radiance, and leaped down from the chariot.
"King of Knights, that was a splendid attack. Caster has been thoroughly eliminated."
Leaning on her holy sword, Saber merely smiled faintly and humbly replied, "Thank you for the King of Conquerors's praise, but defeating Caster was everyone's accomplishment. Without everyone's help, I could not have succeeded either. I dare not claim all the credit."
That mixture of confidence and humility did nothing to diminish the King of Knights's bearing, striking everyone deeply. The Saber from before and the Saber now seemed like entirely different people.
Rider nodded and said no more. "Then let us end the night here. After such a great battle, I have no desire to fight you heroes again. That would be far too dull. Why not celebrate instead and drink ourselves into a stupor? Only then will our visit to this world not have been in vain. What do you say?"
A celebration after battle made perfect sense. It had always been a tradition, whether in ancient times or modern ones.
However, Saber politely declined the King of Conquerors's proposal.
"My apologies, King of Conquerors. My companion is feeling somewhat unwell and cannot accompany you to celebrate."
Seeing the silver-haired, elf-like woman beside the King of Knights looking so weak, Rider did not think too deeply about it. He assumed she was Saber's Master, weakened from expending too much mana.
"With the King of Knights, one of the main attractions, absent, the banquet would be no fun. In that case, King of Knights—and Lanser, loyal knight—we shall part ways here. We shall meet again on the battlefield. Hahaha!"
Rider drove away in the Divine Bull Chariot, and Saber turned her gaze toward the black-clad knight.
"Sir Lancelot?"
The knight dropped to one knee and bowed. "My apologies, my king. Your knight's duty of loyalty has now been fulfilled. From this moment on, I am my Master's knight. After tonight, my king, we will be enemies."
Enemies. She would have to face her former friend and comrade-in-arms as an enemy.
Saber felt a little sorrow in her heart, but after emerging from her low point, such feelings could no longer shake her resolve. She raised the holy sword in her hand and touched it to the knight's shoulder.
"Sir Lancelot, I understand. Though our time together was brief, I was truly happy. Your companionship and support as an old friend have made me realize that even at the very end, when the kingdom was about to fall, there were still companions loyal to me and to the path we all believed in. I am glad to have received your acknowledgment and approval."
It was Lancelot's encouragement and presence that had made her understand that, even at the end, she had not been alone.
In the past, she had been consumed by the loneliness of destruction, causing her to overlook certain people—to overlook those who were still waiting for her, waiting for her to rise again and save their homeland.
The holy sword moved from the knight's shoulder to the other side.
An ancient rite was completed here.
It was an ancient ceremony for knighting a knight, but here it carried another meaning as well: even if her knight would become her enemy in the Holy Grail War, he would still remain loyal to her in his heart.
Saber withdrew the holy sword, helped the knight to his feet with both hands, and smiled calmly.
"Sir Lancelot, in the name of Altria Pendragon, the King of Knights, I hereby declare that you are temporarily expelled from the Knights of the Round Table for the duration of this Holy Grail War."
The knight lowered his head and placed a hand over his chest, accepting the declaration.
"Thank you. Then, King of Knights Altria Pendragon, I, Lancelot, will fight you with all my strength in the future."
The words "all my strength" awakened distant memories in Saber. Back then, among the Knights of the Round Table, no one's skill could compare to that of the First Knight.
In that era, challenging Lancelot had become the most glorious battle for every knight. Even she herself was no exception; she had wanted to fight Lancelot.
Yet their identities and positions had made those battles more like sparring matches. Neither side could fight with all their strength. It had been a regrettable sort of battle.
But now, she could experience in the Holy Grail War what she had never been able to experience before. That made Saber excited as well.
She raised her voice and made the same promise. "Lancelot, in the name of the King of Knights, I accept your challenge."
"Thank you, King of Knights."
Having achieved his purpose of securing a battle fought with all their strength, the knight retreated a short distance, turned, and vanished into the night.
He had already done some of what he wished to do. From now on, he would devote himself fully to supporting his Boy Master and fight according to his oath.
Lanser, who had watched from the side for a long time, was filled with envy. A knight and sovereign who understood and supported each other, yet could still become enemies—if he had once encountered a lord like the King of Knights, how wonderful that would have been.
However, Lanser could not pledge himself elsewhere now. After all, as a Heroic Spirit, he had his own honor.
"Saber, I should be leaving as well."
"Lanser, thank you for what you did."
When Saber looked at Lanser, she recalled that if he had not acted so honorably in the earlier battle and lifted the curse placed upon her left hand, dealing with the enormous Sea Monster would likely have taken more effort.
Saber was truly grateful for Lanser's sacrifice.
"No. For a knight's honor, a mere Noble Phantasm is nothing. Saber, there is no need to concern yourself with it."
With the Sea Monster dead, his contribution to this battle had not been small. Though he had lost the cursed short spear Noble Phantasm, Lanser did not regret his choice.
In this battle, he had witnessed the light released by chivalry, a light that had nearly illuminated the entire world.
He rejoiced in such brilliance and was glad that he had been able to take part in this Holy Grail War.
"However, Saber, we will meet blades again in the future. But I doubt anyone wishes to fight another battle today. So I shall take my leave as well. My Master is waiting for me."
Saber did not try to stop Lanser. There was no need. She would remember his righteousness.
"Farewell, Lanser."
Only after Lanser had also vanished from the embankment did Saber support Irisviel, who had recovered a little strength, and bring her to the car.
"Irisviel, are you all right?"
Saber had not seen the silver-haired, elf-like beauty looking so frail for the first time. Earlier that morning, at the hideout Kiritsugu had prepared, she had seen how utterly helpless Irisviel truly was.
Leaning against the car, Irisviel forced a smile.
"I'm fine, Saber. I only need some rest. You know, I am an Einzbern homunculus, not an ordinary human."
This time, Saber, whose mindset had awakened as the King of Knights, would not let Irisviel brush her off. "Irisviel, as your friend, tell me honestly. Why has your body become like this?"
Faced with such a stern King of Knights, Irisviel realized that some things might have changed. "Saber..."
"Irisviel, concealing the truth will only drive us apart. Trust is the bridge between us. Whether it is you, Irisviel, or Kiritsugu, later we will have an honest talk and share our ideals with one another. I fear that from the time I was summoned until now, we have never properly communicated."
Sincerity and trust.
Did that man truly possess such things?
Irisviel could not imagine it, but when she looked at Saber, she felt something strange. She felt that Saber was someone worthy of trust and entrusting herself to.
After hesitating for a while, Irisviel finally decided to reveal the secret of Einzbern.
"Saber, listen to me. I am not merely the acting Master. I am also the vessel meant to bear the Lesser Grail in this Holy Grail War..."
"...Irisviel, you..."
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