On the Road to Becoming a Demon God: King Arthur, I Understand Human Hearts! / I'll Become a Demon God Too-A Fierce Grail Battle!

The King of Conquerors scratched the back of his head. The usual ease was gone from his expression, though he still replied with a hearty laugh.

"Ah, it seems the little lady has truly created something incredible. I really want to seize it for myself! Hahahahaha!"

Beside him, Kiritsugu Emiya grimly sensed the Garden of Avalon. One hand had already slipped into his coat, gripping the pistol loaded with Origin Bullets as he assumed an attack stance, ready to fire an Origin Bullet at Rin at the first opportunity!

Of everyone present, only Saber paid no attention to the Garden of Avalon. All she wanted to know was whether the Holy Grail could still fulfill her tragic wish. Even if it could only be achieved through the worst possible outcome, Saber now believed that as long as someone else could take her place as King, any result would be better than what she had done!

Rin looked at the tense crowd and smiled proudly, seemingly quite pleased by their reactions. But when she saw Saber radiating a cold, sinister aura, her smile faded. Damn, it'll be troublesome if Saber turns dark. Looks like Berserker will have to reveal himself early.

"Saber, why are you so obsessed with the Holy Grail?"

Faced with Rin's sudden question, Saber instinctively stepped forward and shouted.

"I wish to use the Holy Grail to save my country. For that, I will spare no cost!"

"Are you trying to deny the history you wrote?" the King of Conquerors questioned!

Seeing things about to turn into the same dispute over the path of kings from the original gathering of the three kings, Rin hurriedly interrupted.

"Lord Conqueror, this is a conversation between Saber and me!"

"Very well, little lady. But Saber, if that is your wish, then I cannot acknowledge you as a fellow King!"

"You!"

Just as Saber was about to argue with the King of Conquerors, Rin quickly gave Sakura a meaningful look. Sakura willed it, and Berserker dashed to Saber's side in a single stride, roaring at her without pause!

Thinking Rin was about to launch an attack, everyone hurriedly placed their hands on their weapons and prepared to strike back. But Rin's words stopped them from taking any further action.

"Saber, your wish is to save your homeland and your country, correct? Then how do you intend to save them?"

"Obviously, I will return to before I became King and let someone more capable become King instead."

"Then, Saber, how about hearing the opinion of one of your retainers?"

As she spoke, Sakura beside Rin smiled faintly. Berserker revealed his true form—he was Lancelot, once a member of the Knights of the Round Table and known as the Knight of the Lake!

Then Sakura raised the hand bearing Command Spells and cried out!

"Berserker, by Command Spell, I order you to temporarily regain your sanity!"

As only one stroke remained on Sakura's Command Spells, the berserk Lancelot returned to his former calm appearance!

The recovered Lancelot immediately knelt on one knee before his former sovereign, King Arthur, Artoria. He lowered his head, not daring to look directly at King Arthur.

King Arthur stared at her retainer in shock and hurriedly moved to help Lancelot up!

"Sir Lancelot! How could it be you? Rise at once!"

Lancelot brushed aside King Arthur's outstretched hands and said with his head lowered.

"My King, I wish for you to punish me! It was my mistake back then that led to all the troubles that followed. As such a traitorous retainer, I only ask that you punish me."

"Ah! Sir Lancelot, why would I punish you? I never believed you did anything wrong. Guinevere and I were more friends than husband and wife. I failed to withstand the pressure and have Guinevere burned at the stake, while you protected her. I am deeply grateful to you for that. If you turned away from me, then it must have been my own failing as King."

Rin quietly muttered from the side, "Gawain, you died such a miserable death!"

The King of Conquerors frowned as he watched the scene unfold. But since this was a matter between another King and her retainer, and because of Rin's earlier words, he could only silently watch this scene that irritated him greatly.

Gilgamesh, meanwhile, watched the pair of sovereign and retainer with delight. It was like witnessing an incomparably wonderful play!

Lancelot, who had always believed everything was his fault, stared dumbfoundedly at his sovereign. A desolate sorrow rose from his heart, and he spoke helplessly!

"Arthur, you truly do not understand the human heart!"

King Arthur reacted emotionally to the words of her former retainer.

"Sir Lancelot, why would you say that? Once I obtain the Holy Grail, I will immediately reverse the tragedy of the past. There will surely be a better King to lead all of you toward a happier life..."

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Fuyuki City, Zenchou Villa.

Lancelot looked at King Arthur, who was immersed in her own ideals. With extreme discourtesy, he interrupted her and issued a firm invitation!

"My King, sovereign and retainer have reunited after a thousand years. When this Holy Grail War comes to an end, I ask that you grant your retainer a knightly duel as our opening act!"

A trace of nostalgia appeared in King Arthur's eyes before her expression returned to calm. She readily agreed!

"Sir Lancelot, then let us show everyone here what true chivalry is!"

As she spoke, she summoned Excalibur and gripped it tightly in one hand as she faced Lancelot.

Gilgamesh, standing nearby, curled his lips into a faint smile and snapped his fingers. A golden ripple appeared behind him. With a sharp whistle, a gleaming sword shot down beside Lancelot's feet and sank deeply into the ground.

"Since this Mad Dog is temporarily still my guard, I shall not be stingy with rewards. Come, guard, display your valiant form. But if you dare reveal that Mad Dog demeanor again, then I will surely punish you!"

Lancelot ignored Gilgamesh's words. He firmly pulled the sword from the ground, gripped it with both hands, and charged at King Arthur.

The crisp clang of weapons colliding instantly rang through the secluded villa.

Lancelot and King Arthur's superb martial skill immediately drew in all the Servants present, while the Magi could only barely follow the battle between ancient heroes with mana-enhanced eyes.

"Truly magnificent skill. Even among my peerless army, I fear there is no one whose martial prowess can compare to these two." After speaking, the King of Conquerors lifted the red wine on the table and drained it in one gulp. The swelling muscles of his body showed how eager this King was to join the fight.

"Truly magnificent skill!" Lancer exclaimed with admiration!

Sola looked at Lancer in surprise and spoke in disbelief.

"Lancer, are they even stronger than you? Impossible. Lancer, you are the strongest, aren't you!"

Lancer first glanced at his Master, Kotomine Kirei. Kirei rubbed his sore eyes and helplessly waved a hand, signaling Lancer not to mind him. Anyway, it looks like the Holy Grail War will end tonight. No matter what, Lancer will disappear tonight. Once Lancer is gone, Sola will surely come to her senses.

Lancer first gave Sola a respectful bow before explaining.

"Miss Sola, in terms of martial skill alone, those two are indeed above me. But battle is not merely a contest of technique. I am confident I can fight either of them."

"Is that so? As expected, Lancer, you are still the best."

Hearing Sola's childish words, both Kirei and Lancer wore bitter smiles.

At this moment, as the two combatants finished warming up, their fierce clash escalated once more.

Having not fought someone so freely in a long time, King Arthur cast aside the turmoil in her heart and devoted herself completely to this battle between knights.

Only after King Arthur fully immersed herself in battle did she sense the will carried through Lancelot's sword—a sword intent full of sorrow, anticipation, longing, and unease!

As King Arthur felt the will transmitted through Lancelot's blade, she was puzzled. Why is Sir Lancelot conveying such a will to me through his sword? Then she suddenly recalled his earlier words: Arthur, you truly do not understand the human heart. Only then did King Arthur come to a realization.

King Arthur shouted and poured her own will into her sword before bringing it down in a single strike.

With a crisp sound, the C-rank Noble Phantasm in Lancelot's hand could no longer endure such punishment and broke apart. At the same time, King Arthur's will reached Lancelot's heart. Smiling, Lancelot took the blow on his shoulder. Ignoring the pain, he shook his head at Sakura, who was about to use mana to heal him, and looked expectantly at King Arthur.

King Arthur leaned on Excalibur and looked solemnly at Lancelot.

"Lancelot, do you know your sin?"

Lancelot joyfully knelt on one knee.

"My sovereign, the guilty retainer Lancelot accepts the punishment I should have received a thousand years ago."

"Then, Lancelot..."

At this point, Rin was unwilling to let things continue. Since King Arthur would no longer turn dark, there was absolutely no need to let her own Servant be punished by her enemy.

"Wait, King Arthur. Lancelot is my sister's Servant now, isn't he? In what capacity are you punishing my sister's Servant?"

King Arthur raised a hand to stop Lancelot, who was preparing to protest, then smiled faintly.

"Indeed, in this Holy Grail War, I have no standing to punish Sir Lancelot now."

Then she turned toward Lancelot.

"Thank you, Sir Lancelot. It was your sword intent that allowed me to understand what I had done wrong. It made me realize that my beautiful wish was actually a pitiful one. You were right—Arthur does not understand the human heart. I truly committed a grave mistake. While denying myself, I never considered all of you who followed me, admired me, and struggled for our ideals. I merely immersed myself in my own ideals. That pitiful wish even sought to use the Holy Grail to deny the past and experiences in which all of you fought for your country and ideals. Do not worry, Sir Lancelot. I will not do that now. But if I have the chance, I will still claim the Holy Grail. Sir Lancelot, would you be willing to walk the road of the past once more with a King who understands the human heart?"

"Your retainer will wait in any era to become the King's retainer once again."

"King of Conquerors, you can no longer wait, can you? I can feel your surging fighting spirit clearly. Then, do you dare battle Sir Lancelot and me?"

"Hahahahahahaha! I, Iskandar, have never feared anything worth conquering. But could I entrust my Master to you, little lady?"

Having fully understood King Arthur's intentions, Rin nodded to put the King of Conquerors at ease. It seemed King Arthur intended to fight the King of Conquerors alongside Lancelot, allowing Lancelot to seek redemption in that battle. No matter who lost, Rin's side would benefit, so she had no reason to refuse.

At that moment, Kiritsugu Emiya came to King Arthur's side and stared seriously at her.

King Arthur smiled at Kiritsugu Emiya.

"Kiritsugu, I have actually always disliked you. But when Miss Rin explained the Holy Grail earlier, I understood your wish. I never expected someone like you to possess such a noble wish. But Kiritsugu, give up. Otherwise, like me in the past, you will drown in your own ideals."

Kiritsugu Emiya was not shaken at all by the advice of the Servant with whom he was utterly incompatible. He raised the hand bearing Command Spells, seemingly intending to stop King Arthur. Suddenly, his body stiffened. A purple mist drifted around him, and his body became completely beyond his control as he stood frozen in place.

Rin nodded in satisfaction at Assassin, Semiramis, the ancient Queen of Assyria. Looking at Irisviel, who had nervously hurried to the motionless Kiritsugu Emiya's side, and Maya Hisau, who stood guard with her gun raised, Rin said.

"Don't worry. I only had Assassin use poison to paralyze him. Now then, King Arthur, King of Conquerors, you may begin."

King Arthur looked at Lancelot.

"Sir Lancelot, I punish you by ordering you to join me in fighting this King of Conquerors. In this battle, you must fight to the death without retreating and secure victory for me."

"Your retainer accepts the command!"

On the other side, Waver raised the hand bearing Command Spells and looked earnestly at the King of Conquerors.

"Next is the battlefield of the strong, isn't it? My Servant, Waver Velvet commands you by Command Spell: you must win in the end. I command you again by Command Spell: you must achieve victory. I command you one final time by Command Spell: seize the entire world. You are not allowed to fail. All right, from this moment on, I am no longer your Master. Please allow me to witness everything to the end as one of your retainers."

"Hahahahahahahaha! I grant you permission. Come, King Arthur. But I have one final question. King Arthur, is a King solitary?"

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King Arthur answered without hesitation.

"A King should be solitary, devoting herself to the happiness of her country, people, and retainers. All right and wrong must be borne, shouldered, and decided by the King."

"Oh? King Arthur, is that your conclusion? What about the two of you over there?"

Gilgamesh folded his arms and curled his lip.

"What a boring question, mongrel."

Semiramis gave the same contemptuous smile.

"As one regarded by my subjects as the incarnation of the goddess Ishtar, is that not only natural?"

The King of Conquerors shook his head. Mana surged, and a violent whirlwind of magical energy erupted from his center.

"No, no. It seems none of you understand. For people who do not understand, I must display the true bearing of a King here."

In an instant, the scene of endless yellow sands replaced the Zenchou Villa. Within the vast sea of sand, an enormous army marched forward in perfect formation.

Rin surveyed the surroundings, took out several gems engraved with runic symbols, and casually tossed them onto the ground. Then she said in a somewhat pretentious manner.

"Oh! This is truly incredible. It is actually a Bounded Field."

Sakura looked at her sister with slight confusion and asked.

"Big Sister, what is a Bounded Field?"

"Sakura, a Bounded Field is magecraft that materializes the landscape of one's inner world. It is known as the magecraft closest to True Magic. Oh!"

At this moment, Kirei nodded from the side as well.

"That is correct. But in theory, this kind of magecraft is not something humans can use. Rin Tohsaka, those gems of yours are meant to analyze this Bounded Field, aren't they? Do not waste your effort. Hmph."