Just then, the camera suddenly shifted, and a line of text appeared.
[2 minutes earlier]
The camera returned to Fuyuki Bridge.
As the battle between the two sides reached its boiling point, Rider put on a serious expression and said, "This is bad. Saber and Lancer are really going at it. They'll probably decide the victor before long. This is really bad."
Waver was baffled. "W-what's so bad about that? If they decide the victor and someone gets eliminated, wouldn't that be good for us?"
Rider immediately bellowed, "You idiot! The Holy Grail War is a grand event in itself—a miracle! Getting to meet heroes from different eras is an incredible blessing! This is only the first night since the Holy Grail War began, and someone's already being eliminated. Don't you think that's a terrible waste?"
"At this rate, Lancer's going to be eliminated!"
Waver was even more confused and couldn't help but retort, "Wait, isn't that different from your original plan? Weren't you going to sit back and let the others fight it out?"
Rider glanced back at Waver. "I did wonder whether another Servant might show up in response to Lancer's provocation. After all, it's faster to deal with them all at once than to hunt them down one by one!"
Waver was bewildered. "Deal with them all at once...?"
The BGM swelled with heroic fervor. Rider stretched his right hand toward the harbor, his voice filled with delight and boundless passion. "Of course! The chance to cross swords with heroes from different eras comes once in a lifetime, and there are six of them all at once! Naturally, I can't let a single one get away!"
"Just look at Saber and Lancer right here. They're both heroes who make your blood boil! It would be such a waste for them to die here!"
Waver's face twitched as he listened. At last, he threw up his hands and blurted out in agitation, "If you don't want them to die, then what are you planning to do? The Holy Grail War is a deadly contest where everyone kills one another!"
At that, Rider didn't hesitate to slap his own Master, sending Waver flying with a pitiful, effeminate whimper.
Then Rider turned toward the harbor and declared with boundless passion, "Win without destroying; conquer without humiliating! That is true conquest!"
He grinned, drew the greatsword at his waist, then gave a mighty shout and slashed upward with all his strength. A blade of sword energy burst forth, cleaving open the space about ten meters above them. A crackling rift filled with blue lightning appeared, accompanied by a rumble of thunder.
A moment later, the bellow of oxen rang out. Two black bulls charged forth, pulling a chariot behind them. Though they galloped through the air, it was as if they were running over solid ground. Brilliant blue lightning trailed behind them, flashing across the surface of Fuyuki Bridge.
Little Waver lay sprawled on the bridge, whimpering in terror, his body trembling. He was as timid and helpless as ever.
Rider didn't mind his Master's embarrassing display, nor did he mock him. Instead, he said with boundless passion, "Our spectating ends here, lad. Let's go over there too!"
Waver could only let out an unwilling wail, grumbling that Rider did whatever he wanted and kept calling him an idiot, his heart full of resentment.
Rider merely glanced back and grinned. "If you don't like it, why not stay here and watch?"
Waver shouted, "I'm going! Take me with you! You idiot!!!"
His voice was practically in tears.
Rider, however, was quite pleased. He laughed heartily. "Excellent! That's more like my Master! Hahahaha!"
In the real world, many people burst out laughing at the scene.
Waver was just too funny. He grumbled resentfully, then instantly said he wanted to go when asked. He was the very picture of someone who said one thing and meant another. He was also more timid than ever, with a hint of tsundere about him.
Sure, a man acting tsundere usually just came across as unpleasant, but somehow it suited little Waver surprisingly well.
At the very least, all the gay men were getting excited, and the older women who liked pretty young men were smitten too.
Of course, plenty of people had started imagining Waver in women's clothes, and some artists had already begun drawing him that way.
After all, when the audience numbered in the billions across the world, it was hardly strange for a few oddballs to show up.
Still, Rider and his Master were by far the least convincing pair of Holy Grail War participants so far.
The other pairs all fit the standard Master-and-Servant mold. Even though the Servants were heroes of old, the Masters were still the ones in charge. That was true even of King Arthur. She seemed to have plenty of independence, but in reality, she was simply carrying out Emiya Kiritsugu's battle plan.
Waver and Rider were completely different. Waver was entirely led around by his own Servant, like a helpless little thing being thoroughly dominated by an aggressive man. Their couple vibe was off the charts.
That said...
Most people didn't seem to mind.
The reason was simple: Rider's commanding presence had already won over plenty of people.
His boldness, his candor, his domineering confidence that he alone stood supreme—all of it fulfilled people's every fantasy about ancient heroes and conquerors.
A man like that was the kind who could make people's blood boil and win their favor most easily.
Sure, his claim that he would deal with everyone all at once seemed incredibly arrogant, making him look like a clown.
But paired with his overwhelming words, appearance, and bearing, he didn't come across as a blindly arrogant clown at all. Instead, he seemed like a heroic conqueror with absolute faith in himself, the sort of man countless people would kneel before, swear their loyalty to, and follow into the future.
That was the sort of kingly aura that could make anyone surrender.
Just then, the footage on the Light Screen changed again.
Subtitles appeared.
[Back to the present]
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, Rider drove his chariot into the ground with unmatched force, sending up a cloud of dust and flying stones. The harbor, already a wreck, was battered even further, leaving deep scorch marks behind.
Lightning arced and flickered around them, illuminating Rider atop the chariot with a distinctive aura, as if a god had descended.
That entrance was packed with so much presence that it instantly claimed everyone's attention, while also separating Saber and Lancer.
In an instant, Saber and Lancer stared in shock, then turned their full attention to the Rider who had suddenly barged in. As for Waver, he was lying inside the chariot, hidden behind its body. Somehow, no one noticed him at all—he'd achieved perfect concealment.
Then Rider spread his arms as though no one else were there, a confident, hearty smile on his face, and announced in his own voice, "Both of you, lower your weapons! No disrespect before the king's carriage!"
Everyone: "...?"
What was that supposed to be?
Rider seemed quite pleased with his own performance. He turned his head slightly to look from side to side, then took a deep breath and continued, "My name is Iskandar, the Conqueror King! In this Holy Grail War, I have descended into the world in the Rider class!"
Everyone: "!!!"
What? He'd just revealed his true name right off the bat?!
It wasn't just the people watching the Light Screen—the entire world was stunned. According to the information they'd gathered earlier, Servants were supposed to conceal their true identities to avoid becoming targets!
As billions of eyes watched in shock, the Light Screen suddenly went dark as Rider's exclusive BGM reached its finale.
A line of subtitles appeared with it.
[To be continued]
The entire world: "...?"
Today's update is a little late because my editor said I had a recommendation slot today, and it'd be better to post after the rankings changed, since follow-up readership affects future recommendations. This is very important to me.
But there was a problem with the rankings, and they still haven't changed. I asked my editor, who said there was an issue with the technical department and they were fixing it urgently.
It still hasn't been fixed, though, and I can't keep waiting, so I'm posting the update now.
I'm very sorry to have kept everyone waiting so long today.
Before you continue