Tonight's battle had come to an end, but the turmoil caused by Illya's appearance was far from settled.
Einzbern Castle.
Irisviel said excitedly to Kiritsugu Emiya, "That was Illya. Silver hair, crimson eyes—her name and appearance were exactly the same. She had to be Illya!"
Kiritsugu sat expressionlessly in his chair, staring blankly at the floor. He said calmly, "No, she isn't. Our daughter is in Germany, with the Einzbern family."
"Then who is she?" Tears streamed down Irisviel's face in anguish. She recalled what Yuxian had told her that day: for Illya's sake, she must not give up the hope of living.
"Irisviel." Artoria stepped forward and supported her. "Other than Illya, who was that Red-clothed Servant?"
Kiritsugu said quietly, "His name is Shirou Emiya. He appeared in Fuyuki City with Illya a year ago."
"Emiya?!" Irisviel was shocked by that surname. "Could he, like Illya, be..."
"No. It should be a coincidence." Kiritsugu remained composed, recalling everything that had happened on the island. He no longer had any living relatives with the surname Emiya. "No matter what, we'll deal with the others first."
The Tohsaka Family, Tokiomi Tohsaka's magecraft workshop.
Kirei Kotomine reported to Tokiomi Tohsaka, "Teacher, I have sent Assassin to monitor the area around the Matou Family."
"Mm, you have done well." Tokiomi nodded, deep in thought. "We still do not know their purpose, but three Servants are not to be underestimated. With Kariya Matou and Berserker added in, the Matou Family has become our greatest opponent in this Holy Grail War."
"Father said that those three Servants were not illegally summoned through the Holy Grail. I do not know what method they used," Kirei Kotomine continued.
"Our intelligence indicates that they likely borrowed the power of Heroic Spirits through some unknown means." Tokiomi set down his wineglass and bowed to Golden Flash, who sat nearby. "King, could you tell your subject about those three Servants?"
"Ah? You want me to concern myself with three insects?" Golden Flash looked arrogant, deeply displeased by Tokiomi's request.
The next day, Illya was still very weak. She took leave from school and rested at home.
That evening, Yuxian received an invitation from the King of Conquerors to drink together at Einzbern Castle.
A Grail dialogue?
Yuxian was quite interested and readily agreed to go.
He had Emiya prepare some food. Wine without dishes would not do.
When Yuxian and Mash arrived at Einzbern Castle, the three kings were already seated on the ground in the castle courtyard, drinking together.
"Oh dear, sorry we're late." Yuxian apologized with his mouth, but his face showed not the slightest remorse for being late.
Then he added, "How could a gathering of kings be this shabby? Mash, set up the table."
"Yes, Senpai." Mash immediately transformed the shield in her hand into a round table and placed it in the center of the courtyard.
"Oh? Is this the King of Knights' Round Table?" The King of Conquerors slapped the table hard, quite curious about this legendary gathering place of heroes.
Artoria stepped forward and gently caressed the round table, her face filled with nostalgia. She clearly remembered where every knight had once sat.
Golden Flash said in great displeasure, "Mongrel, are you trying to make me the King of Knights' subject?!"
"Huh? Didn't you say every treasure belonged to you? Is this Round Table an exception?" Yuxian put on an extremely surprised expression and shot back.
"Hmph!" Golden Flash said nothing more.
Yuxian stopped paying attention to Golden Flash, who was deep in his chuunibyou phase, and continued speaking to the three famous kings before him. "Drinking without food—you kings really live simply. You don't know how to enjoy yourselves at all."
"Emiya, serve the dishes."
Emiya placed exquisite dishes onto the round table one after another, filling the entire table to the brim.
As expected of a Heroic Spirit with Cooking EX. Yuxian had merely asked him to casually prepare some snacks to go with the drinks, yet Emiya had somehow produced a lavish feast.
Everyone was stunned. Yuxian seemed to hear someone swallow.
Yuxian warmly invited everyone. "Come, Waver and Irisviel, try some too. Let me tell you, Emiya's cooking is the best among all Heroic Spirits."
"From the sound of it, you've met a great many Heroic Spirits?" King of Conquerors Iskandar did not stand on ceremony at all and immediately found himself a seat.
"Quite a lot. There are..." Yuxian stopped halfway through and turned to ask Mash, "How many Heroic Spirits does Chaldea have again?"
"Did Senpai really forget? Being Senpai's Servant must be so pitiful." Mash teased.
Yuxian was a little embarrassed and promptly changed the subject. "Golden Flash, take out a few more cups."
Golden Flash glared at Yuxian, displeased by his rudeness.
Yuxian widened his eyes and glared back, needling him. "As the King of Heroes, are you unwilling even to share good food and wine with your subjects? Or are you simply stingy?"
Golden Flash irritably tossed out several more golden goblets.
Yuxian immediately took one, filled it to the brim for himself, and eagerly drank a mouthful. This was fine wine kept in Golden Flash's treasury; he had long wanted to try it.
"Ha—" The fragrance of the wine lingered in Yuxian's mouth. It was the finest wine he had ever drunk. He turned to Mash and said, "Write this down, write this down. Next time we run into Golden Flash, we have to ask him for some fine wine."
Mash said speechlessly, "Senpai, Mr. Golden will beat you to death if you keep doing this."
"Then... should I ask Young Gil instead?" Yuxian also felt it might be difficult to ask Golden Flash for things, so he immediately changed targets.
Young Gil was much easier to talk to. He definitely would not refuse such a request.
Everyone ate around the Round Table, and Irisviel finally could not resist asking about Illya.
Yuxian answered, "She's fine. Her power comes from the Jewel Staff made by the Jeweled Gentleman. Her body is a little overdrawn, but she'll recover after resting for a few days."
"The Jeweled Gentleman?!" Waver cried out in surprise. "That Grand Marshal of Magecraft?"
Yuxian nodded. "That's right. The Jeweled Gentleman, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, the Mage of Flowers of the 'Second Magic.' The Tohsaka Family's Jewel Magecraft was passed down from him."
"No wonder it possessed such power." As a student of the Clock Tower, Waver had long heard of the Jeweled Gentleman's deeds.
Irisviel had little interest in the Jeweled Gentleman. What she cared about was Illya. "Is she really Illya?"
"You want to ask whether she is your daughter, right?" Yuxian knew what she wanted to ask. After thinking it over, he decided there was nothing to hide, so he explained, "Put it this way: her father is Kiritsugu Emiya, her mother is Irisviel von Einzbern, and she is an Illya from a parallel world. In fact, we all come from another world, a Human Order preservation organization called Chaldea. I am the only Master there. I know everyone present very well, because Chaldea has people similar to all of you."
"Huh? There's one like me too?" Waver pointed at himself and asked in amazement.
"Of course there is." Yuxian looked at him seriously. "Don't belittle yourself, Waver Velvet. At Chaldea, you are the most important Servant."
"Hahaha, as expected of my King of Conquerors' Master." The King of Conquerors laughed heartily and slapped Waver hard on the back.
Mash stared at Yuxian with wide eyes, her forehead glistening. "Senpai's most important Servant isn't Mr. Arash?"
At the side, Emiya's mouth twitched. He had clearly thought of something unpleasant.
"Mash, that is slander. I am a conscientious Master. I merely have a rather good relationship with Arash." Yuxian corrected her righteously, secretly deciding that he would certainly treat Arash well the next time they met.
Arash was the first Servant Yuxian had reached maximum bond with.
Section 12 Chapter 12: Where My King's Sword Points, Our Hearts Follow
In a cheerful and joyful atmosphere, the enormous spread of dishes was wiped clean.
Yuxian secretly glanced at Artoria. She had not said a word throughout the entire meal, and now she was elegantly wiping her mouth.
After eating and drinking their fill, the slightly tipsy King of Conquerors asked everyone, "What grand wish have you placed upon the Holy Grail?"
"In the end, it was originally mine. The origin of every treasure in this world can be traced back to my treasury. If you wish to steal it from my treasury, there should be limits to your shamelessness." Golden Flash declared his ownership of the Holy Grail.
Yuxian said flatly, "My Elizabeth Báthory picks up a Holy Grail for me every year. My room is nearly too full to hold them all. So it turns out you've been throwing things around everywhere."
Everyone looked at him, and Yuxian hurriedly waved his hands. "The Holy Grail is useless. It just sits in the room, glittering and hurting the eyes."
The King of Conquerors laughed. "That truly is remarkable. I very much want the Holy Grail. If I want it, I take it—this is my way. After all, I, Iskandar, am... the King of Conquerors."
Artoria asked, "To seize it by force, what do you seek from the Holy Grail?"
"A body." The King of Conquerors said in a low voice, slightly embarrassed.
"Ah! Isn't your wish to conquer the world?!" Waver asked in surprise.
"Fool! What meaning is there in having a cup conquer the world for me? Conquest is a dream entrusted to myself."
After raising his cup and drinking deeply, the King of Conquerors continued, "To challenge heaven and earth in my own flesh, and personally complete the process of conquest—that is my kingly path."
"I have decided, Rider. I shall kill you with my own hands." Golden Flash smiled, the King of Conquerors' words having piqued his interest.
The King of Conquerors was entirely unfazed. "I would also very much like to seize every treasure in your treasury. You should be careful."
"This is not the way of a king." Artoria did not approve of the King of Conquerors' method.
The King of Conquerors looked at Artoria upon hearing this. "Then tell us what lies in your heart."
Artoria's expression was solemn, and her tone earnest. "My wish is to save my homeland and change Britannia's fate of destruction."
The King of Conquerors doubted his own ears. He asked hesitantly, "Let me confirm this. The destruction of Britannia you speak of occurred during your reign, correct? You wish to change the history you created?"
"That is correct. That is why I cannot accept it. That is why I regret it. I want to change that ending. It is my responsibility." Artoria's eyes were resolute. This was precisely why she had joined the Holy Grail War.
"Hahahaha!" Golden Flash burst out laughing from the side.
Yuxian stared expressionlessly at Golden Flash. Though Artoria's wish might sound somewhat laughable, he would not allow Golden Flash to mock her sorrowful wish so freely.
Golden Flash noticed Yuxian's hostile gaze, clicked his tongue, and stopped laughing.
"My King." Yuxian rose and bowed to Artoria. "I once heard a great king say that the essence of humanity is responsibility."
"As a king, your responsibility was to properly guide your subjects. Yet you shouldered everything yourself, vainly attempting to rely on a tiny Holy Grail to change the history you had created and save your homeland from destruction."
Yuxian paused, then turned to Mash. "Make a note of this. The next time we meet Merlin, don't worry about anything else. Beat him up first."
"Yes, Senpai." Mash nodded without hesitation. It was clear how unpopular that old rogue Merlin was at Chaldea. Even gentle Mash was rather dissatisfied with him.
"Merlin..." Artoria murmured.
"Exactly. He interfered with your fate yet failed to guide you properly. Shouldn't he be beaten up?"
"You tolerated Lancelot's mistakes without punishing him, leaving him trapped in endless guilt and regret. Your rebellious child, the knight Mordred, always admired her Father King, yet she never received your acknowledgment."
"Just as your knight Tristan said, 'The king does not understand the hearts of men.'"
Artoria looked sorrowful and sank into deep self-blame and pain. "That is precisely why I hope to change this fate."
Yuxian shook his head. "My King, you are a king of noble character. You should look forward. Your blade should always point ahead."
"Where My King's sword points, our hearts follow."
"You stopped your time at the Hill of Swords, signing a contract with the Counter Force at the price of eternal servitude. Do you know how tragic that is?" Yuxian's tone turned sorrowful. As a devoted admirer of My King, he absolutely did not want Artoria to meet such an ending.
He pointed at Emiya. "You can ask him what it feels like to be the Counter Force's lackey."
Emiya remained silent. Those were memories he did not wish to mention.
"King, it is time to wake from your dream. Your knights are waiting for you to show them the way once more."
After saying this, Yuxian was in a very low mood. He turned to leave his seat. "Sorry, I'm not in the mood. I'll take my leave first."
Before he could even take a step, countless figures appeared all around the courtyard.
Yuxian flew into a rage. He had thought that with him here, Tokiomi Tohsaka would abandon this attack, but he had not expected Tokiomi to send Hundred Faced Hassan anyway.
His mood was already terrible, and Hassan's appearance made his fury boil over. He shouted, "The evening bell has rung. It is time for you to leave the stage."
Seeing Yuxian somewhat lose his composure, Emiya wanted to move and clear out these uninvited guests who had angered him.
Before he could react, the King of Conquerors stood first. "What tactless intruders. Let me show this young lady what a true bond between king and subject is."
Immense magical energy poured from the King of Conquerors, dragging everyone present into the Bounded Field.
Army of the King
Before Yuxian's eyes stretched a boundless desert. Endless yellow sand rose in the wind, while in the distance, a vast army slowly advanced.
This was the manifestation of the King of Conquerors' inner world. This was the land where his great army had once galloped, the scenery eternally preserved in the hearts of warriors who had shared hardship and joy with him.
King of Conquerors Iskandar spread his arms and shouted, "Behold, my peerless army! Though their bodies were destroyed and their souls gathered as Heroic Spirits, these legendary warriors still serve me faithfully. My bond with them is my greatest treasure, my kingly path, my strongest Noble Phantasm—the Army of the King."
King! King! King!
Everyone in the entire army shouted in unison, waiting for their king to lead them once again to conquer the world.
The King of Conquerors gently embraced his beloved horse, Bucephalus, then swung himself onto its back.
He proclaimed, "A king is one who lives more brilliantly than anyone else, one who enthralls all others. Only the one who gathers the envy of every warrior upon himself and becomes the direction in which they advance can be called a king."
"Thus, a king is not solitary. His great ambition is the sum of the ambitions of all his subjects."
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