The Holy Grail

Chapter 16: The Holy Grail

"Thank you very much!"

Li Ye was deeply moved by Ozymandias's unexpected straightforwardness. Did this mean he could play both sides... no, all three sides!

The Lion King, the mountain folk, and even the Sun King Ozymandias!

"We'll celebrate later. Li Ye, how much do you know about this Singularity?"

Ozymandias tapped his fingers on his throne, the rhythmic sound echoing through the temple.

Is he testing me?

Does ignorance disqualify me from comparison?

Li Ye's expression remained unchanged. "King Ozymandias, the Singularities are distortions formed by the Magus King using the Holy Grail to target key nodes in human history, thereby destabilizing the Human Order."

"King Ozymandias, forgive my presumption, but is the Holy Grail in your possession?"

The massive summoning circle that covered Jerusalem required an immense amount of magical energy. The Lion King's attack had been completely sudden, making it impossible to gather such resources in a short time.

Furthermore, after the Lion King took up residence, the Holy Grail, which should have been there, was nowhere to be found. Li Ye realized that Ozymandias had likely appeared and taken the Holy Grail for himself.

"Hoh, I am the Sun King, the King of Kings. Naturally, such a thing as the Holy Grail is in my hands. Since you have witnessed my appearance, you naturally know where the Holy Grail came from."

Ozymandias, seated on his throne, raised his hand and grasped at empty air. Ripples spread through the void.

The miracle chalice, entirely golden, fell into Ozymandias's grasp.

Its mere existence, a compressed extreme of magical power, seemed to warp the world.

That's the Holy Grail!

The moment Li Ye saw the Holy Grail, he was utterly captivated.

It was different from the Great Holy Grail of Fuyuki that Li Ye remembered.

The Holy Grail in Ozymandias's hand was essentially a highly concentrated mass of magic. Its wish-granting function was far from omnipotent, but if he obtained the Holy Grail, it would provide a supply of magic, preventing Li Ye from suffering from a lack of mana.

At that point, he too could join the top tier of power on this land!

Suppressing his desire for the Holy Grail, Li Ye shifted his gaze away from it. "Respected King Ozymandias, is this the Holy Grail you confiscated from the Crusaders?"

"Indeed. The magus who summoned me used the Holy Grail as a foundation and a catalyst of causality to bring me forth. Naturally, I would confiscate a Holy Grail befitting my status."

"King Ozymandias, then the distortion of the Singularity is caused by the Holy Grail, correct?"

"Yes and no."

Ozymandias toyed with the Holy Grail, speaking casually. "As you said, before your King arrived, the Holy Grail was indeed the source of the Singularity's distortion. But with the erection of the Tower of Ending by that Lion King fellow, the Human Order has already collapsed."

"The Holy Grail now is nothing more than a useless toy."

As expected, the Lion King has replaced the Holy Grail and is now controlling this Singularity!

With Ozymandias's answer, Li Ye's guess was confirmed.

He might have just witnessed the collapse of the Human Order with his own eyes.

"What, you want the Holy Grail?"

Ozymandias looked at Li Ye with amusement.

The moment he produced the Holy Grail, Li Ye's gaze had been locked onto it.

"I am the Sun King, the omnipotent I. How could I possibly use such a poisoned chalice! I am the master of the Holy Grail, its guardian. A mere Holy Grail is not enough to warrant my attention." Ozymandias glanced dismissively at Li Ye.

It was as if he was scolding Li Ye for being so foolish.

I want it!

Li Ye cried out internally, but his expression didn't betray a hint of desire. He opened his mouth to deny it, but then he suddenly recalled Ozymandias's unrestrained laughter.

After a slight hesitation, he spoke with conviction, "Yes, King Ozymandias, I do want the Holy Grail."

"How dare you! The Holy Grail is not something you can possess!"

Before Ozymandias could react, Nitocris couldn't contain herself.

"Hahahaha, honest desire, and the arrogance to dare ask the King for the Holy Grail! You are truly interesting, young man! Hahahaha..."

Ozymandias was once again amused by Li Ye's astonishing statement. "Speak! You know the Holy Grail was the source of the Singularity's distortion, and now it's in my possession, yet you still dare to ask for it?"

"King Ozymandias! I seek the Holy Grail for power! To gain strength that is second to none!"

"The end of the era is upon us. I must gain sufficient power before my King completes his great undertaking!"

Li Ye, having made his resolve, declared loudly.

"To take the Holy Grail from my hands and gain the power to contend with me? Hahahaha—"

"Even knowing the Holy Grail comes from the hand of the king who tried to destroy the Human Order, and that I call it a poisoned chalice, you still want it, simply for power?"

"Yes!"

"Hahahaha, I permit it!"

Ozymandias casually tossed the Holy Grail from his throne.

"!"

Seeing this, Li Ye held his breath, watching the Holy Grail fall towards him.

Splat!

A cold sensation traveled from his palm to his mind, and obscure magical fluctuations, like the tip of an iceberg, deeply shook Li Ye's soul.

'I-I got the Holy Grail just like that?'

Such immense fortune, as if falling from the sky, gave Li Ye an instant sense of unreality.

It felt as though he were dreaming without realizing it.

The Holy Grail, once seen as the distorted source of the Singularity, the Holy Grail known as a wish-granting machine, was now in his hands—

How utterly insane was this?!

"Thank you, King Ozymandias!"

Li Ye, barely snapping back to reality, couldn't hide his excitement.

"Li Ye, the rebellious knight, how long do you think you can hold onto the Holy Grail?"

Ozymandias asked casually, propping his face up with one hand.

His words instantly calmed Li Ye, who was in high spirits. He slowly looked up, meeting Ozymandias's gaze. "For a year. Half a year later, a traveler from a foreign land will arrive at this Singularity. That will be the end of everything.

The stars indicate the approaching traveler, the Human Order Preservation Institution—Chaldea, and humanity's final Master—"

Ritsuka Fujimaru—

Li Ye didn't speak the name, merely murmuring it in his heart.

"You really know a lot! Is this the source of your arrogance?"

Ozymandias's expression remained unchanged, unfazed by Li Ye's talk of the future.

Li Ye shook his head and then looked at the Holy Grail in his hand, speaking slowly. "King Ozymandias, I am not arrogant. This is merely my wish, similar to the Lion King's, but different—a wish to save humanity."

"Where does the reasoning for comparison originate? It's merely a faint desire to survive, to see which king can truly save humanity. It's all just to stay alive."

Li Ye's sincere yet unpretentious words echoed quietly in the temple, causing Ozymandias to let out a scoff. "Li Ye, this is your greatest arrogance, but I am very satisfied!

Go, and when your promised year arrives, let me witness your arrogance!"