"We're being stared down hard over here!"
The red-haired giant glanced at Roy across the table, grinning with what seemed like smug satisfaction.
"Definitely your fault, so you go handle it."
The black-haired man waved dismissively, shoving him as if annoyed.
Though the red-haired man's massive frame dwarfed even Roy's by several sizes—making it physically impossible for the slender black-haired man to actually push him—the giant still rose obligingly, playing along with the charade of being forced forward.
Then he approached Roy.
His towering, colossus-like figure cast an immediate shadow over the table. When Nino and Itsuki looked up, the sheer oppressive presence left them momentarily speechless, frozen like cicadas in winter.
Why another weirdo?
The red-haired man flashed what he assumed was a friendly smile at the girls, only to be met with reactions suggesting they'd rather melt into the floor. Scratching his cheek awkwardly, he redirected his attention to the main subject.
"Hey there, kid. You've been eyeing me since I walked in—do I know you?"
His gaze sharpened as he studied Roy, revealing a cautious side beneath that rough exterior.
"Conqueror Iskandar. Of course I know you. Why are you here?"
Roy met the giant's stare with equal wariness, his own scrutinizing gaze lingering.
If memory served, during the Holy Grail War a decade ago, all six Servants besides Gilgamesh had been corrupted—without exception. Among those six dark entities that ravaged the world, the Conqueror Iskandar had been one.
Yet this Iskandar showed no signs of corruption. Instead, he resembled the original King of Conquerors—devoid of any dark aura or taint from the world's evils.
"Hah! So you do recognize this king!"
The red-haired giant's booming laughter seemed powerful enough to rattle the wooden walls, radiating infectious energy.
"But tell me—why shouldn't I be here? Unless you're claiming kingship over this city yourself?"
He openly confirmed his identity without hesitation.
This fiery-haired, wild-bearded giant was indeed the Conqueror Iskandar in the flesh!
Nino and May kept their heads low, pretending invisibility, but exchanged bewildered glances at the revelation.
Conqueror...?
Who's that?
"That's not what I asked."
Roy's brow furrowed.
"Weren't you already a corrupted Servant? What's your purpose here now?"
Frankly speaking, a corrupted Iskandar might prove more terrifying than even a corrupted Artoria.
Not in terms of raw power—Artoria with the Lesser Grail would undoubtedly hold that advantage. But regarding personality shifts? The Conqueror's transformation would likely prove more drastic. While a darkened Artoria merely grew more militant in methods, a corrupted Iskandar abandoning his passionate bond between ruler and subjects could morph into a tyrannical despot ruling the world through sheer oppression.
Roy had been wary of Iskandar, who hadn't appeared at all during the recent Holy Grail War, always preparing for potential ambushes. Now that they'd encountered each other, things couldn't possibly end simply.
"Ah, you mean that? Hahaha, do I still look like I'm corrupted now?"
Iskandar clapped his hands together in understanding, then let out a hearty laugh.
"I was freed from corruption several years ago, thanks to my trusted subordinate!"
He laughed loudly, slapping his massive hand heavily onto the shoulder of the black-haired man beside him.
"Ow! You're too rough!"
The black-haired man glared at him angrily, shoving his hand away while rubbing his sore shoulder with a resentful expression.
"It's not unreasonable for you to be wary of him when he was corrupted—he was terrifying in every way back then. But as you can see, he's recovered now, so there's no need to be on guard."
"...You actually managed that, Waver Velvet?"
He really recovered from corruption? Roy's skeptical gaze shifted to the black-haired man beside him.
This guy was undoubtedly Waver Velvet, Iskandar's Master from the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Rumors said he had died in the last war, yet here he was, alive and well, still hanging around the King of Conquerors.
"Also, the Greater Grail has been gone for a long time. Why is the King of Conquerors still in this world?"
"Because not only did he break free from corruption—he also incarnated into flesh."
Realizing Roy wouldn't be easily fooled, Waver sighed in frustration, pulling a cigar from his pocket and lighting it.
"I know it's hard to believe. After all, I'm just a third-rate magus with barely any lineage—everyone says so, and I know my limits. But unfortunately, he really has incarnated and shaken off the corruption."
"Honestly, after all these years, you're still selling yourself short!"
Iskandar slapped Waver's shoulder again, his tone a mix of exasperation and fondness.
The impact knocked the wind out of Waver, sending him into a coughing fit. His trembling cigar-holding hand pointed accusingly at Iskandar's face, but words failed him amid the coughing. His already exhausted, sleep-deprived face flushed red with frustration, as if he wanted nothing more than to curse him out.
Looking awkward, Iskandar patted his back gently to help him recover.
Nino and Itsuki had no idea what they were talking about. To avoid mistakes, they kept their heads down the entire time, not daring to interject.
Growl—!
But suddenly, the sound of a hungry stomach echoed through the room.
Roy turned to see Itsuki, her face bright red, arms tightly hugging her stomach in embarrassment.
Wait, didn't you just eat cake?
"Sorry, I didn't eat much for lunch today…"
Itsuki lifted her head guiltily, offering a timid explanation.
Now that he thought about it, she had only eaten two buns for lunch today. Even with the cake earlier, it was less than half her usual intake. After going through such a shock, of course she'd need more food to calm her nerves.
"Inoue, two more slices of cake."
"...Understood!"
Another two slices of cake down the drain...
Roy snapped back to attention, refocusing on Waver and Iskandar.
"Although it's truly hard to believe, I do acknowledge that you're quite capable."
"Anyway, since you're no longer a corrupted Servant, let's leave it at that. While I'm curious about your purpose for coming here, that's not something you'd casually reveal, is it?"
Waver, having recovered his composure, nodded silently.
"Then consider my earlier interference as meddling."
Roy used these words to conclude his conversation with the pair.
He gave up pressing further. Since they had their own objectives, it wasn't his place to pry.
At any rate, now that the King of Conquerors had recovered from corruption, given his character, whatever he intended to do would likely be done openly. There was no need to worry about ambushes or sneak attacks.
Ultimately, this was just a chance encounter. Roy didn't want to involve himself too much, nor was there any need to.