Banquet

Artoria stared at Mo Li in disbelief. "This... even our births...?"

"Yes." Mo Li continued, "As expected, once Artoria grew up, she drew the Sword in the Stone and became king. She killed Vortigern, who according to the script should have destroyed Britain. Later, she even used the power of fairies to build Camelot City."

"The decline of the Age of Mythology was the inevitable path everyone chose. Yet Britain used the powers of that age to build a castle? Fairies, giants, magical creatures, and humans actually coexisted? Wasn't that plainly refusing to give Gaia any face? In other words, the Earth beneath our feet."

Mo Li released the hand he had pressed against Artoria and folded his arms. "So, aside from the difficulties your country itself faced, the main reason behind all the problems you encountered later was that you yourselves were fighting against the world!"

"Killing Vortigern was very well done, but that peace only lasted ten years. In the end, the era could not be changed. Under the broader decline of the Age of Mythology, the fundamental premise that Britain of the Age of Gods would be destroyed could not be changed. Since Vortigern was gone, Morgan became the second Vortigern, the root of Britain's destruction. If you could have told Morgan back then that you loved her and asked her to help you govern Britain, how could your country have been destroyed? At most, it would have retreated to the other side of the world and continued to exist."

"To sum it up, the answer you gave to the second trial threatening your nation's destruction in that era was a failing grade, Artoria! Morgan was right there, yet what you did was utterly unwise! Though your flawless conduct left you without a single stain, Britain was destroyed because you refused to let go of certain prejudices and seek Morgan's help."

Artoria sank to her knees dejectedly. "I... was it because I was too perfect that my country was destroyed? Morgan..."

Only now, after the Battle of Camlann and after coming to this era, could she learn from this man before her about Morgan's feelings for her and all she had done. It was already far too late...

Her Britain had already fallen.

And she had never imagined that the one who wanted Britain destroyed would be the world itself... because Britain had opposed the direction of the world.

Everyone present had complicated feelings, especially Lancelot. He had never expected things to be like this.

Mo Li said, "The world's development was entering a new era, yet you refused to follow it. You defied heaven and brought this trial upon yourselves. Unfortunately, the answer you handed in was not good enough."

Artoria said bitterly, "So we merely brought this upon ourselves...?"

Mo Li said, "Your response was not perfect, so naturally the final result was that you brought it upon yourselves. Morgan could clearly have helped you, but you never realized where the problem lay. You kept thinking about other matters and gave up on Morgan, who should have been able to help you."

Artoria's expression darkened. "..."

Ritsuka Fujimaru muttered, "Is he unable to stand seeing this, or is he worried about her?"

Irisviel beside him heard him and replied softly, "He's worried about her! If he didn't care, he wouldn't be angry on her behalf. His attitude isn't mocking Artoria for failing to do her duty as king. He's angry because she could have done better, yet didn't."

Mash Kyrielight asked, "By the way, would it really have been all right for the King of Knights to marry Morgan? Or rather, to have Morgan come help govern the country?"

Kiritsugu Emiya said calmly, "There's no problem. They're both women, so they couldn't marry anyway. They couldn't truly do those things that would draw the world's condemnation. Besides, how much help did Morgan give the King of Knights from beginning to end? History has already made it very clear. Gawain, Agravain, Mordred, and the like were all Morgan's children, and she personally sent them to the King of Knights' side. Asking Morgan to help govern the country would have been no problem at all. Even if Morgan bore the mission of destroying Britain at the end of the Age of Gods, the manner of its destruction could have been entirely different."

Ritsuka Fujimaru said thoughtfully, "So Britain at the end of the Age of Gods really could have survived by retreating to the other side of the world?"

Irisviel said with a smile, "If Morgan truly spent hundreds of years arranging everything because she wanted to revive Artoria, then she definitely would have been able to do it."

"...If, I mean if." Artoria raised her head and looked at Mo Li, who was looking down at her. "If I went back to the past and asked Morgan to help me..."

Mo Li said coldly, "Your Britain has already been destroyed, hasn't it? Artoria, someone followed only by knights cannot be called a king. Do you want to hurt the people of Britain in that land a second time? You were the king acknowledged by everyone, their king chosen by heaven. Since the king has failed, you must accept it. That is the choice of the era. And you no longer have the chance, Artoria."

Artoria still felt deeply unwilling. "The Holy Grail... If I could return to the past and have Morgan help me from the very beginning..."

Mo Li said, "You're dissatisfied with the outcome and want to start over? But do you really have that chance? Artoria, the best possible result would only be leading Britain at the end of the Age of Gods to retreat to the other side of the world. Or perhaps only Camelot itself, since that was the most seriously unlawful creation. Would that really count as saving your country?"

"Though I suppose it would. As long as you obediently left, the people of that land would no longer be targeted because of things that existed against the rules. And without the civil strife among the Knights of the Round Table, many people would not have had to die."

Artoria said, "...Is that already the best choice?"

Mo Li said, "Who knows? After all, it has never happened. You already did the best you could, Artoria."

To Mo Li, Artoria's choice now was no surprise. After all, this was exactly how Artoria had been during the FZ period—dissatisfied with the final outcome and wanting to change it.

Artoria rose to her feet, her gaze firm. "No matter what... I want to try."

Iskandar, standing nearby, could only shake his head as he listened.

"Oh? Have they arrived already?" Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, entered the courtyard alongside Tokiomi Tohsaka, followed by the Lancer Diarmuid and Kayneth and Sola.

Mo Li looked at Medea. "Now that all the guests are here, bring out the table."

"Mm!" Medea waved her staff, summoning a round table and more than twenty armchairs.

"Oh? Are you holding a banquet for the common folk?" Gilgamesh's gaze swept over the two girls, Caren and Illya, before he smiled. "Not a bad idea. A king's glory ought to be witnessed by commoners; the common people are also part of a king's glory."

Though Gilgamesh was arrogant, he was quite tolerant toward children. Besides, a fight was not about to break out, and there were no rats among those present, so his tone was not particularly harsh.

"Golden Flash, you're ready to drink yourself senseless with me, aren't you?" Iskandar called out, patting the wine barrel beside him.

Gilgamesh looked over and sniffed, then wore a look of disdain. "What kind of cheap swill is that? Do you think such a thing can be used to judge heroes?"

"Really?" Iskandar looked at the barrel of modern fine wine he had bought at great expense in confusion. "But this is already some of the best wine on the local market."

"You think so because you have no idea what real wine is, you ignorant fellow." Gilgamesh walked to the table, raised a hand, and summoned three gleaming golden bottles onto it, followed by more than twenty cups.

Gilgamesh declared proudly, "One bottle of King's Wine, one bottle of Hero's Wine, and one bottle of juice for the children. Hmph, praise me to your heart's content. These are fine things you could never have drunk otherwise!"

Mo Li immediately praised him. "As expected of Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes! Everyone, please take your seats."

Gilgamesh casually picked a seat and sat down, and the others took their seats as well. As for the Masters, most merely listened to the Servants converse. No one wanted to provoke them at a time like this.

Kirei Kotomine had also received Hassan of the Hundred Faces' notification and come out, but he did not bring up his specially prepared dish. It was time for a drinking banquet, not yet the time for him to issue his challenge. He could still tell the difference.

The rich fragrance wafting from the wine bottles intoxicated even the onlookers.

Iskandar complained, "I thought that after the docks, we would continue slaughtering one another. I didn't expect even something like the Holy Grail could go wrong. Mo Li, have you fixed it?"

Mo Li said, "I'm stuck on the final step, but I have a way around the problem. We'll talk about it after the banquet."

Mo Li controlled the bottle of King's Wine and filled everyone's cups first. Naturally, the two children could only drink juice.

As the wine went down his throat, Iskandar exclaimed, "Fine wine!"

After taking a sip, Artoria was also astonished.

Sola nearly collapsed drunk after taking a small taste. It was not only because of the wine; it also contained incredibly dense magical energy, so dense that even she felt intoxicated by it.

"Whether it is wine or swords, my treasury holds only the finest treasures." Gilgamesh took a sip, then swirled his cup. Seeing everyone marvel at his wine, he smiled in satisfaction. "My glory is supreme. Enjoy yourselves to your heart's content!"

Iskandar smiled as he retorted, "Archer, your exquisite wine is indeed supreme, but the glory of being a king may not truly be supreme. If it were, then why did you answer the summoning and come to take part in this Holy Grail War? What grand wish do you possess?"

Gilgamesh said, "Ha, you still dare provoke me? You wild king. And your guess about me is entirely wrong. I thought you would have remembered my conversation with Mo Li. A half-baked wish-granting machine like the Holy Grail is unworthy of my attention. I came here merely to reclaim the Holy Grail."