Seven Contestants (Continued)

Cú Chulainn nodded, then squinted and looked at Rovey again, saying:

"So you mean your team with that old woman lost the last Holy Grail War? That's really unexpected. After all, the fact that that old woman was still alive and could be summoned was surprising enough, but she actually lost? I really didn't expect that old woman to lose."

"What exactly happened to you...?"

No, actually we won.

Rovey shook his head and replied, "I am the victor of the Fourth Holy Grail War. I won in the end with Scáthach."

"Oh, I see... Then I'm not surprised. After all, neither you nor that old woman seem like easy to deal with. Compared to my Master, you're even more unpredictable to me."

Cú Chulainn looked at Rovey and said, "Speaking of which... didn't the information you just gave me mean you've already told me outright that you're the strongest contender in this Holy Grail War? Aren't you afraid I'll take action against you? Let me make this clear: although you treated me to dinner and know Scáthach, I'm not the kind of person who would let an opponent go just because of a relationship."

"Or... are you so confident in revealing everything because you're confident that your Servant can block my attack at this close range, even if I attack you? Where is your Servant? Would you like to come out and meet them?"

"No, that's not it. My Servant is Caster. In close combat, he's definitely no match for you, and he doesn't have the ability to block your attacks either." With that, Rovey handed Cú Chulainn another can of beer.

"Hey, that's interesting. Don't tell me you're betting I won't attack you."

Cú Chulainn opened his beer and said seriously.

"A bet? It's not that serious. After all, I know you pretty well, and there's no need to be so blunt," Rovey continued. "However, I can explain why I've been talking to you for so long."

"What's there to explain? It's just something like an alliance. Although you're quite to my liking, I can't make decisions like that." Cú Chulainn pointed to the beer in his hand and said, "But considering your relationship with Scáthach and the fact that you bought me a drink, I might consider dealing with you last."

"Thank you so much, but that's not what I wanted to ask."

"Huh? So what you mean is?" Rovey glanced at Cú Chulainn, then said seriously, "Actually, I'm not really interested in this Holy Grail War. I just want to resolve it peacefully in my own way, so I need cooperation from each group."

"Cooperate?"

Cú Chulainn looked somewhat confused. "You're trying to win me over?"

"No, it's not that bad, I just want you to help me out."

Rovey said, "Your master probably thinks the same way, that it's best to solve the problem in a way that doesn't result in any deaths."

"No one should die?" Upon hearing this, Cú Chulainn's eyes turned strange. He looked at Rovey again and said in a deep voice, "Do you know what you're doing? You're actually saying things like 'no one should die in war'."

"I know, that's precisely why I came to you for help."

"Ha, you're quite frank, which reminds me of those Archdruid. But... why should I help you? My Master's orders are to wander around freely and do whatever I want, and what I crave right now is precisely battle."

"However, it's not entirely impossible for me to help you a little, unless..."

"Unless what?"

Cú Chulainn downed his beer in one gulp, then crushed the can.

"Find me a strong liquor that satisfies me, the kind that can get me drunk, and I'll consider helping you. To be honest, the liquor of your time tastes as bland as water, and it even has a wheat flavor. If it weren't for the slight alcohol taste, wouldn't it just be wheat juice?"

Cú Chulainn retorted.

Compared to the strong liquor of his time, the beer that Rovey ordered really didn't make him drunk at all; it seemed far too bland by any measure.

So he wanted to take this opportunity to get Rovey to bring him some good wine.

He plans to help him once or twice as a way of repaying a favor.

As for getting him drunk, does that really mean he'll give up the fight?

That's completely impossible. Even the strong liquor of his own era couldn't get him drunk, so how could the liquor of this era possibly...?

Just when Cú Chulainn thought his plan had succeeded and he could get a few bottles of good wine from Rovey for free...

The next moment--

Bang!

The two crystal-clear bottles were taken down from above the counter by Rovey.

Despite the shopkeeper's repeated explanations that it wasn't for drinking but for mixing drinks, he still placed it in front of Cú Chulainn.

"Here you go, your strong liquor, please enjoy."

"So fast?"

Cú Chulainn looked at the two bottles of strange, crystal-clear liquid that looked like water and fell into doubt.

This doesn't look like a strong, high-quality liquor at all...

Could it be that this guy saw through my intentions and is trying to fool me?

And the name is so strange, what is it called...?

"The Water of Life?"

Is this some kind of healing liquid?

Cú Chulainn glanced at Rovey and asked him again if he was sure he hadn't taken the wrong one.

After repeatedly checking, he listlessly picked up the bottle, then gulped it down, intending to drink it all and leave.

Only...

At the very moment of entering.

Cú Chulainn, who had been full of energy, suddenly felt his throat burning, and his stomach seemed to be churning with fire. His brain and his eyes spun around.

"What, what is this...?"

He stared at Rovey, who was spinning in front of him, and could no longer even speak clearly.

The next moment.

Clang!

The once arrogant Ireland Child of Light collapsed onto the table, looking like a dead dog.

Upon seeing this, Rovey took out his phone to take a picture of him as a memento.

Are you drunk?

That's very simple.

This 96-degree "Water of Life," brimming with modern technology and potent energy, will surely kill you if you drink it.

If an ordinary person had downed two bottles of the Water of Life in one go, they would probably be reporting to Ereshkigal by now. But thankfully, given Cú Chulainn's physique, he'll probably wake up tomorrow morning.

So this group can now be considered successfully resolved.

"So... you're trying to help Emiya Kiritsugu?"

Just after Cú Chulainn was successfully forced to drink and pass out, a pair of white arms suddenly emerged from behind and clung to his neck.

"But you still followed me, didn't you?"

Rovey was somewhat helpless when he saw Merry suddenly appear.

"Yes, after all, a wife would definitely worry if her husband went out drinking, right? How about experiencing kneeling on a washboard?"

"Merry's what I said, my eyes shining."

"... What have you actually learned? Can you please watch less soap operas lately?"

Rovey was utterly speechless.

"Hey, we've been spotted."

Merry stuck out her tongue. "I'm just learning about modern married life."

"Who studies like this...?"

"Hehe, let's start as an old married couple."

--

After dumping the completely drunk Cú Chulainn at a hotel.

"Rider, Ishtar / Ereshkigal."

"Berserker, Astraea"

"Caster, Merry."

"Lancer, Cú Chulainn."

"Archer, Hercules."

"Now there are only two classes left: Saber and Assassin."

"Yes, thank you for your help. I've noted it down."

Kirei Kotomine opened a black notebook and carefully recorded all the information provided by Rovey.

On the other side, Rovey rested his hands on the church bench and looked up at the skylight above him.

"We're still missing Reines and Sakura, and it's Saber and Assassin? What a strange combination. I thought there would be a Rider."

"But..."

Rovey raised an eyebrow, then suddenly turned to look at Kirei Kotomine beside him and said, "You didn't summon a single Servant this time? I thought you would participate and help Emiya Kiritsugu."

"..."

After a moment of silence Kirei Kotomine raised the back of his hand.

"I have long since lost the right to be chosen by the Holy Grail."

"Oh, I see. Well, congratulations!"

Rovey looked up at Kirei Kotomine and chuckled softly.

"After all, this means you are already a completely happy person."

Everyone has desires, so everyone has the opportunity to be chosen by the Holy Grail. The only reason someone might not be chosen by the Holy Grail is that they have already fulfilled their desire. In that case, there's nothing more to say except congratulations.

"Yes, thanks to you all, I entered Hell during the last Holy Grail War, saw myself, and recalled my past with my father, which made me realize many things."

Kirei Kotomine looked up at the sky and said, "I have come to understand the principle that those who are enlightened are always happy."

Are you also making it in heave?

Upon hearing his words, Rovey could only smile helplessly.

Then, in front of him, he said, "Actually, in order to control the course of this Holy Grail War, I originally wanted my Servant to summon another Servant to occupy two slots, but unfortunately, because of Ishtar, I had to divert my energy to restrict her, which made the plan fail."

"But that's against the rules..."

"As long as it's not discovered, it's not considered a violation."

Upon hearing this, Kirei Kotomine an eyebrow. To say something so obviously against the rules in front of him, the supervisor, really left him at a loss for words.

"Alright, I was just joking. After all, you know me; if I really wanted to fight, I wouldn't even care about the power of one or two Servant."

"But... then please at least reduce the damage," Kirei Kotomine sighed deeply. "As everyone knows, Fuyuki City's natural gas pipelines don't just explode randomly, at least not that frequently."

"Don't tell me that. The last time it was Gilgamesh caused trouble, but these two times my Servant are Caster, who has the least destructive power. So how the explosions happen has nothing to do with me, right?"

"Are you serious?"

Kirei Kotomine's eyebrows twitched violently.

The scene where Caster's Scáthach secretly extracted the magic power of the Greater Grail and then transformed into a super Celtic to wreak havoc at Ryūdō Temple with Gilgamesh, almost obliterating the entire road, was still vivid in his mind.

From that moment on, he knew that none of these Casters were easy to deal with; they were the most dangerous beings in the Holy Grail War. Not to mention that this time, Rovey summoned the renowned Magus from Celtic Mythology, the court Magus of King Arthur, Merry.

This person, whether in legend or reality, is full of legendary charm. With his Magecraft, he can be at the forefront of Human History. He can definitely bring you a huge surprise if you are not careful.

Kirei Kotomine naturally dared not be negligent in the slightest. He could only hope that Rovey would know his limits and not make things too big.

--

Inside a mansion on the outskirts of Fuyuki City.

"Hmph, not bad. Although it looks just average, there's enough space inside."

As soon as Reines got out of the car, she led Sakura and Gray to the secluded villa that Kenneth had prepared for them.

Because it is built deep in the surrounding mountains and forests, its seclusion is naturally unparalleled.

As for why I live here...

It's actually quite simple.

Kenneth's Holy Grail War survival manual clearly states that one should not stay in conspicuous areas such as hotels, and should not build Magic Workshop too obviously; the principle of concealment must be followed.

So he prepared a very safe place for Reines and Sakura.