King...

Kiritsugu Emiya naturally did his best to fulfill his wife's wishes, and Artoria's strength was enough for him to win this Holy Grail War.

As he finished his deep incantation, a flash of light appeared in the summoning circle, revealing a tall and imposing knight.

However, this knight was different from the King of Knights they had seen before.

She was covered in armor and wore Zhang Jiao's helmet, which completely obscured her face, making it impossible to see her features.

It wasn't Artoria, Kiritsugu Emiya frowned.

Click click click click!

A sound rang out, and the knight in the summoning circle put away his armor, revealing a face that looked very similar to Artoria's.

She slowly walked up to Kiritsugu and looked at him carefully for a moment.

"Saber, Mordred has arrived. Is Father King here?"

She turned and glanced at 'Avalon' in the center of the summoning circle; it was her Father King's sword sheath, how could she not know it?

Upon hearing Mordred's self-introduction, Irisviel quickly stepped forward and shook her hand.

"This time it's the King of Knights' daughter, what a lovely child."

Her words immediately provoked Mordred's displeasure.

There are three things that should not be mentioned in front of Mordred.

1. Artoria.

Second, her identity as a woman.

Third, treat her like a child.

Irisviel stepped on every single one, without missing a single one.

Mordred flung Irisviel's hand away, about to explode in anger.

Kiritsugu Emiya murmured thoughtfully, "Avalon actually summoned a rebellious knight..."

In fact, during the Fourth Holy Grail War, Artoria had already given up her unrealistic ideals due to Yuxian's intervention, so it was understandable that she was not summoned this time.

As for why Mordred answered the summons, only Mordred herself knows the answer.

Kiritsugu Emiya noticed Mordred Emiya's slight head-shaking gesture.

She immediately abandoned Irisviel and turned her attention to Kiritsugu.

Is there something you're unhappy about with me?

"I, Mordred, will surpass my Father King!"

Irisviel covered her mouth and chuckled secretly.

"What a spoiled child, she looks exactly like Artoria."

"I'm not a child!" Mordred glared at Irisviel, very dissatisfied with her statement.

Irisviel still looked at her with a smile, and at that moment she seemed to recall the days she spent with Artoria.

"It would be nice to be able to spend time with her children," Irisviel thought to herself.

On the other side, at Waver's residence.

Lainis, Gretel, and Melvin were talking in the living room.

"Is the teacher alright?"

Gretel was a little worried. Ever since the summoning of Servant began, Waver had been doing all the preparations himself and wouldn't allow anyone else to help.

He is now performing a summoning ritual in another room, without allowing them to watch.

Lainis took a sip of her black tea and said calmly, "That's just how my brother is. We'll just have to wait patiently; it should be over soon."

Melvin added, "Oh my, this time Waver's dream is really going to come true. I'm really looking forward to meeting the king he so highly praises."

They waited slowly in the living room, as time ticked by.

Trimmaou refilled Lainis's teacup after cup...

Waver still hadn't come out even when her stomach started to feel bloated.

She started fidgeting impatiently, "What is my brother doing? Why is it taking so long!"

"Is the teacher facing a problem?" Gretel asked with a worried expression.

Waver was alone in the room, with Fragment of the King of Conquerors' Cloak neatly placed in the center of the summoning circle.

He carefully checked all the spells once more and mentally recited the summoning incantation.

Then he tidied his clothes and appearance.

This was his thirty-fifth time checking the summoning circle and adjusting his clothes.

Waver was filled with a mix of trepidation, anticipation, and hesitation.

"What should I say as my first words when I see Wang in a little while?"

"Does he not remember me anymore? What should I do?"

Should we tell him about the last Holy Grail War?

Waver hesitated, and the closer he got to hope, the more complicated and uneasy he felt.

The more anxious one is, the more afraid one becomes of making mistakes, and this situation repeats itself endlessly.

If someone who knows him well were to see him at this moment, they would be quite surprised.

Even the usually wise and decisive monarch El-Melloi II had this side to him.

Finally, after checking the summoning circle for the fortieth time and tidying his clothes, Waver gritted his teeth and began the summoning ritual.

He chanted the incantation skillfully, his expression solemn and sacred, as if he were doing the most important thing in his life.

This was indeed the most important thing in Waver's mind.

However, an accident occurred when he was halfway through reciting the incantation.

The door to the room was suddenly opened.

"Brother, are you done yet? It's almost dawn!"

Lainis stormed in, having waited in the living room all night, utterly bewildered by what Waver was up to.

Why drag it out for so long when it could have been done in just a few minutes?

Call!--

As the door opened, a gust of air stirred up a gentle breeze in the room.

The cloak fragment, which was originally placed in the center of the summoning circle, was gently blown away and drifted outside the summoning circle.

Waver was at a critical juncture in his summons when he saw this situation. He was furious, but powerless to do anything about it.

Lainis then realized that she had gotten herself into big trouble.

She was extremely nervous.

If she ruins Waver's plans, she can forget about Waver ever treating her well again.

In a moment of desperation, she did the last thing Magus should ever do.

She lunged forward, grabbing at the fluttering fragments of the cloak, and entered the summoning circle, disrupting the summoning process.

Thump!

Lainis fell to the ground, her hands barely managing to grasp a fragment of her cloak.

And at that moment, the summoning was complete...

Lainis didn't realize was that her hand wasn't actually inside the summoning circle, but rather extended outside of it.

"Lainis!!!"

Waver roared, his voice booming loudly in the quiet night.

His face twisted as he looked at Lainis on the ground, his heart filled with despair.

The fact that no Servant appeared can only mean that his summoning had failed, despite his long preparations and expectations.

At this very last moment.

It failed...

Chapter 33, Section 254: The King...

"What's wrong? What's wrong?"

Hearing Waver's roar, Gretel and Melvin rushed in as well.

When they saw Lainis lying on the ground and Waver with a defeated expression, they instantly guessed what had just happened.

Their faces showed disbelief; it was all too sudden, and no one had expected this outcome.

Melvin shook his head. "Miss Lainis, I can't save you this time either."

Everyone present knew how much Waver longed to see Iskandar again; he had been anticipating and preparing for this wish for a full ten years.

When Lainis ruined things at this moment, it's easy to imagine how angry and frustrated Waver must have felt.

A wish that was just one step away from being fulfilled was nipped in the bud at the last moment. Such cruelty is something no one would easily accept.

The more expectation Waver had, the more disappointed, even desperate, he was at this moment.

Because after this, the Greater Grail will be dismantled, and there will be no more Holy Grail War waiting for him.

Gretel stepped forward and asked, "Teacher, can I try to summon again if the summoning fails?"

At this moment, Lainis wore a mournful expression and softly said, "The summoning was successful..."

"Um?"

Everyone immediately turned their attention to her.

Even though no Servant appeared, why did Lainis say the summoning was successful?

"He's inside my body, I think his name is... Sima Yi..."

It was a success?

Waver grabbed Lainis from the ground and glared at her angrily.

"Wait! Wait! Brother, let's talk this out! Don't fight, let's talk this out!"

Lainis immediately began to beg for forgiveness, knowing she had made a big mistake, and at this moment she was acting contrary to her usual attitude.

"Our debts are all settled, all settled!"

"Gretel, please help me! Talk to your teacher!"

Waver's veins were bulging, showing just how agitated he was.

Finally, he sighed and gently released Lainis.

Is this destiny?

Waver sat on the ground with his head down, slumped to the side.

"Mr. Yuxian is right, I really did not summon the king this time."

The Clock Tower Lord, who had once firmly declared that "Magecraft is not superstition," now acted like a child.

Tears streamed down my face.

This outcome was far too cruel for Waver.

If he hadn't been given hope, things might not have come to this.

But we had already reached the final stage, and everything was ready.