A Question-and-Answer System Among Heroic Spirits, Section 43

Chicken, duck, fish, and meat were all there, along with every kind of fruit and vegetable.

The drinking vessels were jue cups and winged cups, the wine jars were eagle-headed pots with overhead handles, the serving dishes were dou pedestal dishes, the rice bowls were min vessels, and the chopsticks were zhu.

Every piece had a distinctly Chinese character.

"Now that's more like it. This is what a banquet should be."

Iskandar immediately began eating and drinking without standing on ceremony.

"Cough, cough. What is this cheap swill?"

Gilgamesh took a sip and choked, coughing nonstop.

"Hahaha, isn't this wine excellent? What a kick!"

Iskandar poured himself a bowl and downed it in one gulp, looking thoroughly satisfied.

Qin Shi Huang had brought out strong Chinese baijiu, which suited a rough, boisterous man like Iskandar perfectly.

"You only think that because you have no idea what real wine is."

Gilgamesh truly could not get used to the baijiu, so he immediately took a jar of fine wine out of the Gate of Babylon.

"Watch closely. This is what one calls the wine of kings."

After pouring himself a cup, Gilgamesh gestured for everyone to help themselves.

Clearly, Gilgamesh was trying to save some face.

Qin Shi Huang did not mind. He simply summoned a terracotta soldier to take the wine jar and fill everyone's cups in turn.

"Oh, this wine is good too. It tastes wonderful!"

Iskandar drained a bowl and immediately praised it.

"Yes, this is indeed exceptionally fine wine."

Qin Shi Huang also acknowledged that the wine was good.

"Whether swords or wine, my treasury holds only the finest treasures."

Gilgamesh immediately grew smug again.

"Hmph. What do you mean, yours? The gods brewed this wine."

Ishtar exposed him without the slightest hesitation.

"Shut up. It belongs to me now."

Gilgamesh snapped back at her, then continued, "Now it's clear which king stands above the others, isn't it?"

"Archer, your wine may be fine, but the Holy Grail and a wine cup are different things."

Iskandar smiled. "Tell me your wish first."

"You have no right to order me around, mongrel."

Gilgamesh snorted. "Besides, the Holy Grail belonged to me to begin with."

Iskandar asked curiously, "How so?"

Gilgamesh said, "Every treasure in the world can trace its origins back to my treasury. Therefore, any treasure that has ever appeared, from ancient times to the present, can be found in my treasury."

Iskandar said, "Then you already have the Holy Grail!"

Gilgamesh said, "I don't know."

Iskandar said, "???"

"I have far too many treasures. As long as something is a treasure, it must be one of mine."

Gilgamesh said gravely, "You intend to steal it from my treasury? You have some nerve, thief."

Iskandar said in displeasure, "You're a king. Why are you acting like such a miser?"

"What you're saying is hardly any different from Caster's mad ramblings."

Artoria also expressed her displeasure at Gilgamesh's words.

More importantly, she did not believe him at all.

Because by Gilgamesh's reasoning, wouldn't all of humanity be working for him?

"It seems we won't be reaching an agreement."

Iskandar said solemnly, "If I want something, I take it by force. That is who I am, the King of Conquerors."

Gilgamesh snorted. "Then there's nothing for it. We'll have to cross blades."

Chapter 49: A Debate over the Relationship Between a Nation and Its King

Both sides had laid their positions bare. A battle was inevitable.

"In that case, King of Conquerors, what wish do you intend to ask of the Holy Grail?"

Qin Shi Huang had watched their exchange as though watching a play, then spoke up to ask.

"My wish is simple. I want a physical body."

Iskandar stated it openly.

"Huh? Isn't your wish to conquer the world?"

Waver looked utterly bewildered beside him.

Iskandar slapped Waver to the ground and said, "What's the point of having a cup conquer the world for me? Conquest is something you achieve with your own two hands."

Gilgamesh said with some displeasure, "Mongrel, you're challenging me over something like that?"

Artoria frowned. "That is not the way of a king."

"Oh, King of Knights, it seems our ideals differ."

Iskandar asked, "Then would you tell us your wish?"

"..."

After a long silence, Artoria slowly said, "My wish is to save my homeland."

Beside her, the Knight of the Lake shuddered.

Iskandar frowned. "Save it? How do you intend to save it?"

Artoria said, "By using the omnipotent wish-granting device to change Britain's fate of destruction, of course."

"..."

Their surroundings suddenly fell silent.

Artoria frowned. Is there something wrong with my wish? Why has everyone stopped talking?

"When you say you want to change its fate, do you mean you want to overturn history?"

Iskandar dropped his jovial expression and asked with a solemn face.

"That's right."

Artoria's expression was just as solemn, showing that she was not joking.

"Heh..."

Across from her, Gilgamesh could not help laughing.

Iskandar stared quietly at Artoria for several seconds, then said, "As I recall, that country called Britain fell during your reign, didn't it?"

"That's right."

Artoria said gravely, "That's why I cannot forgive myself, and why I want to change it all."

"Hahaha..."

Gilgamesh laughed louder and louder.

Artoria finally lost her patience. She slammed a hand on the table and rose. "What's so funny?!"

"Forgive me. I just heard an incredible joke."

Gilgamesh said disdainfully, "You call yourself a king, yet you speak of regret. How could anyone not laugh?"

"There's nothing so terrible about regret. Everyone has things they regret."

Qin Shi Huang said calmly, "But this desire of yours to change the past is not redemption in my eyes. It is nothing short of running away."

"What?!"

Artoria was somewhat bewildered.

Qin Shi Huang said, "Everyone wishes they could change the past, but the leader of a nation must never entertain such thoughts."

Artoria asked, "Why?"

"Because we must take responsibility for our own decisions."

Qin Shi Huang said gravely, "You want to change the past. Do you think your decisions were flawed? Do you want to reject the decisions you made in life?"

"No..."

Artoria said softly, "Even if I could do it all over again, I'm afraid I would still make the same choices."