Chapter 47

Artoria was almost swayed by his words. Although Mo Li had helped her block them, she would probably still need to find somewhere to clear her head. Going over to FGO and hacking away at Demon God Pillars sounded like a good option.

As for Iskandar, he had not yet had the chance to argue that Artoria had failed to guide her confused subordinates. Good thing he had not said it, or Mo Li would have had plenty of examples to throw at him. Besides, Lancelot was sitting right beside them.

Berserker Lancelot clearly understood what he had done wrong. That was why he prayed for the King of Knights' forgiveness. Otherwise, why would he have appeared here?

Lancelot was the best example. The Knights of the Round Table had fallen into internal strife; they had not truly become lost. He knew perfectly well what he had done, but circumstances had forced his hand at the time.

A group of subjects caused trouble for their king, then turned around and claimed the king had failed to guide them... How was she supposed to guide that? Starting with Lancelot and Guinevere, then Gawain's death—did any of that look like confusion that needed guidance? And there was Mordred's rebellion as well.

Weren't they all perfectly clear-headed? Every one of them knew what they wanted to do.

"A world that needs saving... that really is difficult..."

The rest of the banquet was spent discussing how to help Ritsuka Fujimaru solve his problem. Compared to the Holy Grail War, saving the world was naturally an endeavor that attracted Heroic Spirits more.

Gilgamesh, however, showed no intention of going over to help. In Mo Li's view, perhaps it was not that he did not want to go, but that Gilgamesh already existed in FGO. Though he had not yet joined Chaldea, he would definitely do so after the Seventh Singularity, so there was no need for him to go.

After all, Gilgamesh might know about the FGO Worldline.

Until, at last—

Kirei Kotomine issued a challenge to the three kings present.

Gilgamesh said, "Oh? It has only been a few days. Do you think you are already capable of challenging me again? If you fail to satisfy me, that will be a grave offense!"

Hearing that, Iskandar looked at Kirei Kotomine curiously. "What sort of interesting challenge do you have?"

Artoria asked, "What kind of challenge is it?"

Mo Li kindly told Artoria, "Personally, I would recommend not being curious. Of course, if you insist on trying it, that is fine too."

Diarmuid spoke from the side. "An ordinary person choosing to challenge three kings? That is quite unusual. May I join as well?"

Hassan of the Hundred Faces shot Diarmuid a look as though he were an idiot. With no one else available to taste-test, she knew better than anyone what Kirei Kotomine's ingredients were like.

Kirei Kotomine gave Diarmuid a friendly smile. "I welcome anyone who wishes to participate. Hundred Faces, bring out the food I prepared with such care."

Having heard Mo Li's warning, Medea and Lancelot, who roughly understood what was going on, kept silent. That man's food was quite intimidating.

As for Masters like Kiritsugu Emiya, after hearing Mo Li's undisguised hint, they all politely declined as well.

"Is that so? King of Knights, will you take the challenge?" Kirei Kotomine looked toward Artoria.

Artoria looked at the other two kings. "If the two of them take the challenge, then I will as well."

Gilgamesh looked somewhat displeased upon hearing that. "Hmph. What? Do you think I would flee before battle?"

Mo Li had helped Artoria block that soft blade that killed without leaving a trace, but that did not mean the little King of Knights was qualified to think she could stand on the same level as him.

Iskandar said, "Since we have all chosen to accept the challenge, bring out four portions for us."

"Heh." Kirei Kotomine wore an enigmatic smile.

Mo Li looked at Gilgamesh. "King of Heroes, why not activate your Star of All-Knowing and All-Seeing and take a look ahead?"

Gilgamesh glared at him. "Are you looking down on me?! How could such a trivial matter possibly require me to activate the Star of All-Knowing and All-Seeing!"

Mo Li said, "...All right."

Hearing their conversation, Ritsuka Fujimaru felt that it sounded like something incredibly powerful, so he quietly asked, "Senpai, what is the Star of All-Knowing and All-Seeing?"

Mo Li explained, "Although it bears the name all-knowing and all-seeing, it is not truly all-knowing and all-seeing. But if it is merely used to glimpse the future some time ahead, that is not a problem."

"It is that powerful?!" Ritsuka Fujimaru was delighted at first, then seemed to think of something, and his expression turned helpless. "What a shame... Our world has no future that can be observed now."

Mash Kyrielight said from the side, "If we could ask Mr. Gilgamesh for help..."

Mo Li said, "Do not think too much about it. Until you earn his recognition, he does not have that much idle interest."

At the same time, Hundred Faces brought over four portions of Mapo Tofu braised with sea cucumber and abalone, along with the corresponding tableware.

Mo Li fell silent as he looked at the four plates. "Kirei Kotomine, why are sea cucumber and abalone the side dishes for Mapo Tofu?"

Kirei Kotomine replied as though it were only natural, "Because I thought they might pair well together. And is it not true that your country treats order as a player's main meal? Perhaps there is sufficient logic in that as well. So that is what I did."

Mo Li said, "...Very logical."

Artoria also fell into deep thought as she stared at the plate of Mapo Tofu before her. What was that crimson broth-like sauce, like molten lava from hell? And why did it smell so pungently spicy?

Nearby, Illya waved a hand beneath her nose, frowned, and moved farther away, pressing close to Irisviel. Irisviel gave a helpless smile and cast a spell to cleanse the smell for the child.

Gilgamesh glanced at the food on his plate. "Kirei, is this the challenge you have presented to me?"

Kirei Kotomine said, "That is correct. This is the dish I have devoted myself to researching these past few days."

"Hmph." Gilgamesh disdainfully speared an abalone and brought the food dripping with red sauce to his mouth.

Could it be considered delicious? Anyone who enjoyed the combination of fresh, savory, and spicy flavors would certainly regard it as the ultimate delicacy, but...

"Ugh..." Gilgamesh put down his fork. After only a few chews, he swallowed, and his face gradually turned red. He immediately clutched his throat with both hands, unwilling to cough. That would be far too humiliating!

Though his current actions seemed even more embarrassing.

"Is it really that extreme, Gilgamesh?" Iskandar watched the King of Heroes for a while, but received no response. He could only spear a sea cucumber. "By the way, this soft, springy thing is called sea cucumber, right?"

Kirei Kotomine said, "Correct."

"The sauce seems to have cooked all the way into it. Let me try it." Iskandar put the sea cucumber into his mouth and chewed. Then his expression froze. Now he understood why the King of Heroes had reacted that way.

It was delicious, but this thing... was hard to evaluate.

A king could not lose face.

Iskandar silently ate the sea cucumber. Rather than immediately giving a hearty review, he simply gave Kirei Kotomine a thumbs-up.

Perhaps the dish was rather outrageous, but to those who could appreciate it, it truly counted as delicious. However, there probably were not many people who could appreciate food that was so intensely savory, fragrant, and spicy. This was not something ordinary people could challenge. Only heroes and braves could probably take on this dish.

"You two?" Artoria could not understand the state the two kings were in, so she could only turn a pleading gaze toward Mo Li. "What's wrong with them?"

"Them..." Mo Li refilled the cups of those whose Hero's Wine had run out. Gilgamesh, as though he had seen a savior, immediately lifted his cup and drained the Hero's Wine in one gulp.

"Ha... Kirei, it is still far too early for you to challenge me!" Gilgamesh said as he deliberately set down his cup with elegance.

Kirei Kotomine smiled subtly. "Then I ask that the King of Heroes properly savor this cuisine of the common people."

Gilgamesh: "..."

Mo Li drained the Hero's Wine in his cup, then looked at Diarmuid. "Diarmuid, aren't you going to try it?"

"Uh..." Diarmuid felt as though he had detected some sort of trick from the two kings, but if he did not eat it, what kind of hero would that make him? This was a challenge issued by another Master!

As a hero, how could he refuse it!

Diarmuid cut off a small piece of abalone and sea cucumber, then scooped up a spoonful of Mapo Tofu and brought it into his mouth along with the abalone and sea cucumber. Only after chewing and swallowing did he understand what the two kings had felt just now.

"..." Diarmuid silently drank some wine. Thank heaven Kirei Kotomine had not specially prepared any beverages, or he would not have dared drink them.

Iskandar drank the Hero's Wine, then said with a laugh, "No wonder you dared use such cuisine as a challenge. It really is quite a challenging dish."

"Really?" Artoria looked at the two of them suspiciously. Still, they had both eaten it, so she could not exactly refuse. Besides, she was indeed a little hungry.

She ate with the same elegance she showed at any ordinary meal. No matter how hungry she was, with so many outsiders present, she could not reveal her true nature as a foodie. Thus, she put both side dishes into her mouth together.

After swallowing the food, Artoria's face flushed red. She lifted her cup and drank the King's Wine, after which Mo Li refilled the cups of everyone who had emptied theirs.

It really did taste good, but she could not appreciate it... or rather, she had no intention of appreciating something like this.

Only after downing her second cup did Artoria say, "In any case, it truly is a fine dish."

Kirei Kotomine smiled in satisfaction. "It seems it was acceptable enough."

At that moment, Mo Li suddenly said, "Then there is almost nothing left to do. Let me give everyone some good news: the Holy Grail only has one final step left before the last stage of repairs begins. If there are no problems, the Holy Grail War can officially begin tomorrow. When the time comes, we will first confirm how much magical energy the winner's wish will consume, then decide how I should repair the Holy Grail."

Iskandar laughed. "Oh? That's good. I can hardly wait to regain my body! For such a simple wish, the Black Grail should not have many tricks it can pull, right? We can completely solve the problem first, then discuss it once that thing turns back into the Holy Grail."