"I'm sorry, King of Knights. Although I understand your feelings, I do not wish to see such a beautiful jewel covered in dust."
Leon stared directly into Artoria's eyes as he spoke. To him, the knight standing before him was someone who absolutely had to remain under his command.
This girl was worth more than an entire kingdom.
One could even say that the true reason Leon conquered Britain was to obtain Artoria, and that every arrangement he had made in that land existed precisely for that purpose.
If someone analyzed it calmly, they would realize how absurdly excessive that sounded.
But the romance of kings had always been written in blood.
"Do not worry. You will do it willingly. I only force my enemies."
"What?"
Artoria was stunned for a moment. She knew the man before her was incomprehensible. His mentality, strength, and wisdom existed on an entirely different level from hers.
But now that she had lost her throne—or rather, her chains—what exactly could this man possibly use to bind her to his side?
The very next second, Leon gave her the answer.
It was something Artoria absolutely could not refuse.
Radiating brilliantly like a golden chalice.
And yet, no one would mistake it for an ordinary cup at first glance.
Because it contained magical power as vast as the ocean, along with an indescribable holiness, as though it were the wine chalice of the gods themselves.
"Judging by your expression, I assume you already understand what this is. Exactly… the Holy Grail."
"This is the wish-granting machine you pursued your entire life as a knight yet never managed to obtain."
"T-That is the Holy Grail?! But… why? I should have sent Galahad and the others to search for it!"
"Hah? What a foolish question. I wanted to obtain it, so it ended up in my hands. Is there any problem with that?"
What an arrogant declaration.
And yet, coming from him, it felt completely natural.
Leon casually spun the Holy Grail in his hand, while the blonde elf standing behind him unconsciously puffed out her chest, overflowing with pride and satisfaction.
[As long as it is something you desire, whether it is a star in the sky or a treasure hidden in the depths of the abyss, we will find it for you. Because fulfilling your wishes is the meaning of our existence.]
Alpha watched—no, admired—the way Leon held the Holy Grail while speaking with such overwhelming arrogance.
After Leon gained control of the World Tree, the location of the Holy Grail had become completely clear, and Night Raid immediately dispatched people to retrieve it.
In addition, several other legendary treasures had also been discovered.
Even so, Alpha still felt slightly dissatisfied.
Leon had sent people to recover the Holy Grail because he wanted to possess it… yet now he intended to hand it over to another woman.
Although Alpha was normally extremely calm and rational, even she felt a slight sense of jealousy at that moment.
Still, the instant her gaze returned to Artoria, her confidence immediately came back.
Based on everything she had learned about Leon over the years, she understood perfectly well:
This man adored greatness.
Unlike the King of Knights standing before them, who failed to understand her own human emotions, Leon possessed a heart far too vast.
"As long as you swear loyalty to me, I will give you this Holy Grail. What do you think, Artoria?"
Leon casually shook the golden chalice as he offered it to her.
It was as though the wish-granting Holy Grail were nothing more than an ordinary cup used to reward subordinates.
Artoria's pupils contracted violently upon hearing those words.
"Y-You… are truly willing to give this to me?"
"I never take back my words. Besides, the reason I wanted this chalice has already been fulfilled."
"What do you mean? Are you saying you already made a wish?!"
"Hm? Of course not."
Leon shrugged.
He had no wishes that needed to be entrusted to the Holy Grail.
His ambition to conquer the world would only hold value if he achieved it step by step with his own hands.
Besides, Leon already stood at the absolute peak of power and authority.
Wealth, beauty, glory, influence… with a single command, all of it could be his.
Because of that, Leon truly could not imagine a wish that required the Holy Grail to fulfill.
And honestly, he believed the relic probably had its own limits as well.
"The so-called Holy Grail is merely a cup in the end. And a cup exists to be used for drinking."
"I have already drunk wine from it before. To be honest, it is merely average. It does not even compare to the custom-made chalice I usually use."
As he spoke, Leon picked up an exquisite goblet.
Its edges were crafted from mithril, the main body was forged from Orichalcum, and countless precious jewels had been embedded into it.
In terms of appearance and quality as a chalice, the object in Leon's hands was practically a "Supreme Holy Grail."
If it were put up for auction in the Magic Kingdom's greatest marketplace, it would likely sell for well over nine digits.
And if they announced that it had been Leon's personal drinking cup…
The price might increase dozens of times over.
"Y-You obtained the Holy Grail… just to drink wine from it?!"
Artoria asked in complete disbelief.
Since ancient times, countless people had sacrificed everything in pursuit of that miraculous wish-granting machine.
And the boy before her had obtained it simply because he wanted to use it as a wine cup?
She felt like coughing up blood.
Thinking about the price she had paid in pursuit of the Holy Grail, Artoria almost wanted to laugh at herself.
One could say that Camelot's destruction and the collapse of the Round Table Knights were also direct consequences of that obsessive pursuit.
She had gambled the fate of the entire kingdom for the sake of the Holy Grail.
Meanwhile, Leon had obtained it on a whim.
Artoria simply could not accept the absurd difference between people.
"So? How about surrendering?"
"As long as you serve me loyally, you may use it as many times as you wish."
Leon wore a radiant smile as he waved the Holy Grail before her.
Artoria swallowed nervously.
Almost unconsciously, she reached out her hand.
That was her obsession.
Her desire.
Her regret.
But also… her opportunity.
If she could obtain the Holy Grail to correct her mistakes, then she would not mind sacrificing even her own existence, even if it meant never reincarnating again.
"If you truly are willing to give me the Holy Grail… then I do not mind offering you my sword!"
"Excellent. Then I shall give it to you."
The corners of Leon's lips immediately curled upward.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he simply tossed the Holy Grail toward Artoria.
Because she was still injured, and also because she never imagined Leon would truly hand it over so easily, Artoria failed to catch it immediately.
The moment she saw the universal wish-granting machine fall onto the ground, she hurriedly bent down to pick it up, carefully wiping away every trace of dirt clinging to the golden chalice.
Artoria: "Can't you be more careful?! What if it broke?! Idiot!"
Leon: "Do not worry. It will not break."
"Unless you try hitting it with Excalibur."
Artoria: "Why would I use the Holy Sword to destroy the Holy Grail?! That is absolutely impossible!"
After carefully cleaning the golden chalice, Artoria finally let out a relieved sigh.
As she stared at the Holy Grail in her hands—the object she had pursued her entire life—her heart trembled intensely.
Then, holding the chalice with both hands, Artoria closed her eyes and made a solemn and sincere wish.
"O Holy Grail… I ask you for one wish."
"Please choose a new king for Britain."
"A king capable of surpassing me… and turning this land into a truly prosperous kingdom!"
(End of Chapter)