Type-Moon: Card Servants Chapter 47

"..."

Waver fell silent. He remembered what Kayneth had told him before his death: he was to tell the members of his teacher's family what had happened here.

"Now that your teacher has passed away, as your Servant, I will naturally shield you from the wind and rain. But once I 'die,' you'll have to rely on yourself." Seeing that Waver had recalled Kayneth's words, the King of Conquerors continued slowly, "Though I believe myself inferior to no one, Saber and the King of Heroes are simply too powerful. I have no confidence in defeating them. This Holy Grail War is already lost."

Only after witnessing true strength would the King of Conquerors admit that he was no match for his opponent.

In modern warfare, the King of Conquerors would never have feared Gilgamesh and Mikaela. But this was the Holy Grail War, a battle between "individual heroes." He had no chance of victory. His Inherent Domain was practically hard-countered by the two of them.

His Chariot of Godly Might had also been destroyed by Gilgamesh. To be honest... the King of Conquerors did not believe he could win this Holy Grail War at all.

"The gap is simply too great." The King of Conquerors was somewhat helpless as well. He was already an extremely powerful Servant, yet two Servants who countered him had appeared in this Holy Grail War.

"If the gap is too great, then don't go prying into other people's information."

At that moment, a cold voice rang out. A petite little girl carrying a cross larger than herself slowly emerged from the shadows. Looking at the King of Conquerors, Waver, and the already dead Kayneth, she calmly said, "Looks like Assassin was the one who did it. Though it seems the King of Heroes also made a move."

"Saber..." The King of Conquerors shielded Waver behind him. He had not expected Saber to arrive so quickly.

"Give up. Your Master cannot provide you with the magical energy needed to deploy your Inherent Domain a second time." Mikaela walked over to Kayneth's side and briefly looked over the man known as a genius.

The first time they met, he had been so spirited in that café. The second time... he was now in this state. In a sense, it was truly ironic.

"Looks like Diarmuid didn't manage to hurt you much in the end." Seeing that Mikaela appeared completely uninjured, the King of Conquerors's heart sank slightly.

"Whether he injured me is not important. What matters is that you two will leave the stage tonight." Mikaela carried the Oath of Judas on her back, looking as though she intended to wipe them out completely. She said calmly, "Though I don't know what information you heard, it no longer matters. As long as you die now, everything will be over."

"Kid, it seems I can't protect you tonight either." The King of Conquerors revealed a bitter smile. From Mikaela's attitude, he could tell that she had no intention of sparing either Waver or him.

"Run. Run like a stray dog. That way, you can survive." Standing before Waver, the King of Conquerors said heavily, "Remember this, kid. Sometimes, living is harder than dying. You carry hope upon your shoulders, so you cannot die. Before you achieve your goal, you absolutely cannot die."

"This was your teacher's lesson, and it is also the first task I, the King of Conquerors, am giving you."

"Waver Velvet, are you willing to help me, the King of Conquerors, pass down my kingly path?"

As if he knew he would certainly die, the King of Conquerors smiled at Waver.

Chapter 119: Again?!

Sometimes, living was more painful than dying.

"Are you going to run?" Mikaela looked at Waver and said in an extremely calm tone, "If it is you, then you can use up your Command Seals and withdraw from this Holy Grail War. I can spare you."

Unless absolutely necessary, Waver could not be killed. Mikaela knew very well that in the future, she might need to rely on his wisdom to find the way home.

"You know my Little Master?" From those words, the King of Conquerors picked up a hint of information. He blinked and calmly said, "From the very beginning, I felt that you, Saber, were full of mysteries."

"Now it seems the secrets you carry are only more numerous than I thought."

"I simply dislike killing the weak. Besides, neither you nor he has any chance of winning now." Mikaela calmly analyzed, "Your Inherent Domain was broken by the King of Heroes. It will take some time before you can restore it."

"Even if your Master has two Command Seals left, it would be impossible for him to restore your Inherent Domain in such a short time."

"..."

The King of Conquerors fell silent. While Command Seals could restore a great deal of magical energy, having a great deal of magical energy would not do him much good right now.

"Besides..."

Mikaela tossed the Oath of Judas into the air and said blandly, "The two of you entered the range of Judas's Divine Grace Barrier long ago. Whether you die or live is entirely up to a single thought from me."

That familiar sensation surfaced within them once more, but it was not a sensation either of them wanted.

Waver no longer wore the same terrified expression as before. At that moment, he could clearly feel as though the magical energy within his body had been sealed, impossible to call upon.

Yet for some reason, there was an indescribable calm in his heart. That feeling... was as though he had seen through life and death, as though it no longer mattered whether he lived or died.

Maturity was not a beautiful word. Only those who had lost something would understand... that maturity came at a price.

The King of Conquerors and Waver were bound by the Divine Grace Barrier. Holding two golden spears in her hands, Mikaela walked toward them. Her expression was utterly cold. Though she had just said she could spare Waver—

—right now, she seemed more inclined to kill both Waver and the King of Conquerors.

"Now, no one is coming to save you." Mikaela tightened her grip on the golden spears and smiled at the King of Conquerors. This might have been the first time she had smiled before him.

At this time yesterday, the King of Conquerors had successfully escaped her grasp with Diarmuid's help. Now... he would not be so lucky.

Diarmuid had already been slaughtered by her. Unless something unexpected happened, Assassin and the King of Heroes would not come interfere with her. This was already a dead end.

"I think we can still talk this over." The King of Conquerors looked at Mikaela with great calm and said, "Don't be in such a hurry to kill me. If you kill me, then that King of Heroes will likely be the one laughing in the end."

Even at this critical moment of life and death, the King of Conquerors maintained a calm attitude. He still had an "information card" in hand. Having fought Gilgamesh, he could provide Mikaela with a great deal of information.

"Laugh in the end? My Master has already formed an alliance with Tohno Shiro." Mikaela walked step by step toward the King of Conquerors and Waver. She knew the King of Conquerors was making one final desperate struggle, but she had no interest in hearing it. Naturally, she knew how strong Gilgamesh was!

But right now, the most important thing was to kill the King of Conquerors, this troublemaker!

If he did not die, even more unforeseen events might occur next. Mikaela hated so-called "accidents" the most!

"An alliance between Masters does not mean an alliance between Servants. You are looking forward to obtaining the Holy Grail, aren't you, Saber?" The King of Conquerors looked at Mikaela and said calmly, "I also wish to obtain the Holy Grail, but I have already lost to you. Therefore, I am willing to assist you in dealing with the King of Heroes."

"Likewise, if you do not trust me, you may do whatever you wish to my Spirit Core. My life and death will be under your control."

At this moment, the King of Conquerors had humbled himself to the extreme. Every word was sincere. If it had been anyone else, they would likely have begun considering whether to accept the King of Conquerors as such a valuable fighting force.

After all, the King of Conquerors was a top-tier Servant. While his Inherent Domain was at a severe disadvantage against Gilgamesh and Mikaela, against other Servants, he was eighty percent confident he could defeat them.

"..."

Mikaela seemed to hesitate. She walked up to the King of Conquerors but did not immediately raise the spear in her hand.

Phew. The King of Conquerors quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Being able to hold back the Saber before him was a good thing as well. He did not yearn for victory in the Holy Grail War. To him... protecting that Little Master, who had yet to grow, was what mattered most now.

"However, unfortunately, I don't care about the Holy Grail."

With those words, Mikaela raised the golden spear in her hand, preparing to pierce through the King of Conquerors' spiritual core!

"Clown, that unpleasant mongrel is this king's prey!"

With that arrogant declaration, more than a dozen Noble Phantasms were hurled down from the sky.

Mikaela frowned slightly and looked upward. She discovered that the Noble Phantasms thrown out from Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon lasted for roughly half a second after entering the Divine Grace Barrier before turning into golden particles and vanishing.

"Oh? Is this your Noble Phantasm? It looks quite impressive." Gilgamesh sat atop Vimana, studying the Divine Grace Barrier with great interest. He was clearly extremely intrigued by this Noble Phantasm.

"However, I do not sense the aura of godslaying. This is likely not the cross that killed Jesus, yet it possesses an exceptionally peculiar aura." Gilgamesh looked at the cross and praised, "This must be a weapon forged by human hands. It does not belong to the gods of heaven, nor was it made by fairies. This is a weapon of humanity in the truest sense."

"Interesting. I thought it was an utterly ordinary weapon, yet it turned out to be such a treasure. Had I known, I would not have bothered with Tokiomi's affairs and would have focused on this clown's battle instead. That would surely have been far more entertaining."

At that moment, Gilgamesh was ecstatic. He wanted the cross in Mikaela's hand! Something created through human effort possessed power comparable to a divine construct—it was no "simple" object.

"Hmm? You're dismissing the barrier? As expected of a clown. No matter. This king will first deal with that mongrel, then claim the treasure in your hand."

Gilgamesh saw that Mikaela had dismissed the Divine Grace Barrier, seemingly telling him: Your enemy is none of my concern. Deal with him yourself.

"Are you not going to fight him?" The King of Conquerors watched Mikaela put away the barrier and said with some mockery, "I can tell that you care greatly about the Holy Grail, but you have restrained yourself a little too much, Saber."

"Say whatever you like. I have no desire to provoke the King of Heroes."

Mikaela seemed to have chickened out. She silently stepped back several paces, slung the Oath of Judas across her back, and stood to one side.

"Mongrel, are you still thinking of running?" After Gilgamesh descended from Vimana, he looked at the King of Conquerors' "weakened" state with a disdainful smile. Although the mongrel before him had some skill—

His trump card was still no match for Gae Bolg.

"Run? This king never intended to run. This was merely a strategic retreat."

With the Divine Grace Barrier gone, the King of Conquerors tightened his grip on the Sword of Cyprus. Staring at Gilgamesh, he sneered. "If you wish to take this king's head, then come! King of Heroes—Gilgamesh!"

"?"

Mikaela was somewhat surprised. He did not understand the King of Conquerors. When speaking with him, the man had been willing to lower his head and suggest that the two of them work together to deal with Gilgamesh.

Yet when facing Gilgamesh, he would rather die than cooperate with him.

What exactly was going on? Mikaela did not understand, but... he did not want to understand either. This was a good opportunity. If he seized it properly, he could slaughter both of them in one go!

A card appeared in Mikaela's hand. Why had he dismissed the Divine Grace Barrier? Naturally, it was to lure Gilgamesh down and have him personally execute the King of Conquerors.

Though he did not know why Gilgamesh had become so hostile toward the King of Conquerors, the exchange from the original story had never happened.

Thus, in Gilgamesh's eyes, the King of Conquerors was merely a mongrel, not a king worthy of his acknowledgment.

Once Gilgamesh killed the King of Conquerors, Mikaela would strike without hesitation and kill Gilgamesh as well!

"A strategic retreat? Laughable." Gilgamesh simply stood there as twelve Noble Phantasms emerged from the golden ripples behind him. Looking at the King of Conquerors, he said coldly, "Mongrel, you will pay for your insolence."

"Death? I've already died once, so it hardly matters." The King of Conquerors secretly gave Waver a push, telling him to leave at once. Without the Chariot of Godly Might, he could no longer escape this place. All that remained was a fight to the death!

"By the Command Seal, Rider, you must obtain victory."

"By the Command Seal, Rider! Defeat the King of Heroes!"

Seemingly aware that the King of Conquerors was at a disadvantage, Waver decisively used his remaining two Command Seals to strengthen him. Yet he did not leave, instead standing quietly where he was.

"Let me see you through to the end, Rider." Waver knew he could not escape. Or rather... before a Servant, even if he wanted to run, it was impossible for him to get away.

Unlike Kayneth, he did not possess the wisdom to break a deadlock, nor did he have an extraordinarily powerful Magic Crest that could free him from this situation.

So Waver could only quietly await death, hoping in his heart that the other side would spare his life.

He could not die yet. He bore his mentor's hopes, as well as the mission of inheriting the King of Conquerors' tyranny.

The King of Conquerors charged! The Chariot of Godly Might had been destroyed by Gilgamesh, and Ionioi Hetairoi had likewise been destroyed by him. Other than the sword in his hand and the Master standing behind him—

He had nothing left...

"A final struggle? Boring." Faced with such a King of Conquerors, Gilgamesh did not even move. A contemptuous smile curled across his lips as the Noble Phantasms behind him shot toward the King of Conquerors.

Splat!

A sharp blade sliced across the King of Conquerors' face, a spear pinned his thigh, and a longsword pierced through his chest. Yet he continued running, letting out a bold roar.

"This mongrel..." Seeing the King of Conquerors in such a state, Gilgamesh frowned slightly. He seemed to realize something. Reaching into a golden ripple, he drew out a gem-studded longsword and said coolly, "I thought you were merely an insolent mongrel, but you do have some courage. Then this king shall grant you a more dignified death."

Clang—!!

The King of Conquerors was now very close to Gilgamesh. He suddenly raised the longsword in his hand and swung it at Gilgamesh's head.

Whoosh—!!

Golden chains flew out from the golden ripples. As though possessed of minds of their own, they bound the King of Conquerors.

Sabers's Noble Phantasm?! Both the King of Conquerors and Waver instinctively had that thought upon seeing this.

Mikaela's earlier use of the Oath of Judas had left a deep impression on both the King of Conquerors and Waver. Thus, when they saw the golden chains, they instinctively assumed they were Mikaela's Noble Phantasm.

"The farce is over."

The instant the King of Conquerors was bound by the Chains of Heaven, Gilgamesh mercilessly drove his gem-studded longsword into the King of Conquerors' spirit core.

"...No, this isn't saber's Noble Phantasm." Blood spilled from the corner of the King of Conquerors' mouth. He could tell that these golden chains were different from the ones in saber's hands.

"This is... the Chains of Heaven."

The King of Conquerors' body began dissolving into golden particles. He was already about to vanish from this world, yet he held no resentment. The strong devouring the weak had always been the truth of this world.

He was no match for Gilgamesh, but as a king, he could not bow his head to another king.

Even if he died, he had to die on the road of charging forward.

Sorry, Little Master... I originally wanted to escort you out, but it seems... this king is powerless to do so now.

The King of Conquerors vanished. Gilgamesh did not look at the trembling Waver, instead turning his gaze toward Mikaela behind him.

The mongrel had already been slain. Now, it was time to see what reaction that clown would have.

"Crack."

Accompanied by the sound of shattering glass, Mikaela decisively crushed the card in his hand just as Gilgamesh was about to turn around.

Of the seven Servants, four had already been eliminated! Though the number four would make a certain character uneasy, right now!! Mikaela was preparing to turn four into five.

"This is my true trump card. If you can defeat 'him,' then my death is simply destined to happen."

Mikaela's voice was no longer feminine. It was deep and heavy now—if it had to be compared to someone's voice, it would probably be Kotomine Kirei's.

"What?!"

Waver was dumbfounded. The petite, loli-like saber from moments ago had actually turned into a... skeletal swordsman wielding a massive sword and carrying a gigantic shield!

Could it be? Was this her complete form?!!