"What?"
Saber stared at Rider, stunned by his answer.
"Master!"
Waver shot up, demanding, "Wasn't your wish to conquer the world?"
"Idiot!"
Rider gave him an annoyed glare. "Conquering the world? That's something I can do with my own strength. But getting a real body—that's different. The Grail gives us physical form, sure, but at the end of the day, we're still just Servants…"
He paused, then grinned. "I want a real body, planted firmly in this world. From there, I'll conquer it all."
"Rider, you…"
"Master…"
"Heh… not bad. I've decided—I'll kill you myself." Archer smiled faintly.
It was his way of showing respect; he only bothered to fight people whose wishes he acknowledged.
"Hahaha, you don't need to make it sound like an honor."
"What? You scared?"
"Hah! Bring it on. I still plan to clean out your treasury."
"You've got guts."
The tension spiked instantly.
"Alright, knock it off."
Shichen stepped in before they could start swinging. "Finish the drinks first."
"You're right—can't waste good wine." Rider smirked.
"Hmph. Fine. You get to live a little longer."
"Rider, with a wish like that, you're not worthy of being called a king." Saber's voice cut in.
"Oh?"
"You disagree with me?"
"Yes."
"Then what's your wish?"
"If the Holy Grail can grant anything, I'd save my country—rewrite history so Britain never fell," Saber said firmly.
"You'd save your country? Rewrite history?"
"That's right. If the Grail is truly omnipotent—"
"Heh." Archer chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Saber snapped.
Rider leaned forward. "Let me get this straight—you're denying everything you did?"
"Yes! My country fell. I regret it more than anything… I want to change that fate—"
"Hahaha!" Archer burst out laughing.
"Archer! What's so funny?!"
"You, a king, talking about regret? That's pathetic."
"What's pathetic about a king sacrificing herself for her people and country?"
"Hahaha! Don't make me laugh. It's the people and the country that sacrifice for the king."
"What?"
"Saber, you've got it backwards," Rider said. "A king's will comes first. Only then can followers charge forward without hesitation. If we regret, we betray them."
"You… don't regret letting your country fall?"
"Not for a second," Rider said flatly.
Saber's mouth opened, but no argument came out. She couldn't accept it—but she couldn't refute it either.
"You're just chained to an ideal," Rider continued. "Like some idol with a perfect image to maintain. You want to save people, but you can't lead them. You're just a little girl."
"I…"
The words hit hard. Memories surfaced—faces she'd saved, only to lose them anyway. In the end, she'd fought for her ideals, not her people.
"Alright, Rider, that's enough," Shichen finally cut in.
"Saber's Master?" Rider gave him a curious look.
"Did you forget her brilliance yesterday?"
"Forget? No chance—it was blinding," Rider admitted.
"Then do you really think she's unfit to be a king?" Shichen pulled Saber into his arms, gently ruffling her hair.
She stayed still, shaken by Rider's words.
"Heh, I recognize that light. But she's still a pitiful little girl," Rider said.
"So what?"
Shichen shook his head. "That's fine. Girls can have ideals, tyrants can have convictions. She wasn't wrong—her people just weren't worth it."
"Not worth it?"
"What's the point of leading people who stab their king in the back?"
"That happened?" Rider frowned.
"Shichen…" Saber looked up at him.
He cupped her cheek, smiling warmly. "Don't take Rider's words to heart. I'll always back you. But you don't need to rewrite useless history or save people who don't deserve it."
"I…"
"You don't need to decide. I'll decide for you."
"What… do you mean?"
"Don't ask."
He pressed a finger to her lips. "You're my Servant. Just fight for me."
"Shichen…"
"Oh, come on… are you two flirting again?" Rider groaned.
"Hmph." Archer turned away.
Saber flushed, trying to pull away, but Shichen held her in place.
"Don't move. Someone's coming."
"Huh?"
"Well, well…"
"Even bugs dare disturb a king," Rider muttered.
They all felt it—a presence drawing near.
The newcomers appeared openly—a group of identical figures in demon masks.
"Assassin?" Rider guessed.
"That's right," one answered.
"So many?" Waver yelped, scrambling behind Rider.
"We're separate bodies—one, yet many," Assassin replied.
"I see. Guests, then. Care for a drink—"
Thunk!
A dagger shattered his wine cup, spilling it down his front.
"I see… so this wine will stand for the blood you're about to spill," Rider said calmly, standing tall.
Wind exploded from him as his wild battle attire appeared.
"Saber, watch closely—this is a king's pride!"
She was about to speak when the world was swallowed in white light.
When her vision cleared, she stood in a vast desert. The Assassins waited ahead. Archer lounged nearby, utterly unconcerned.
"A Reality Marble," Saber realized.
"Exactly!"
Rider spread his arms wide. "This is the land my warriors and I conquered! Even as dust, even as Heroic Spirits, they follow me still!"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Marching boots thundered—and an endless army appeared. All Heroic Spirits.
"These bonds, these warriors—this is my greatest treasure, my king's path, my ultimate Noble Phantasm! Ionioi Hetairoi—the King's Army!"
"So this… is the King of Conquerors' way…" Saber whispered, stunned.
Her heart sank again. His followers stayed loyal even in death. Hers… did not.
"Don't let it get to you," Shichen said with a grin.
"Shichen, I—"
"Just watch."
"…Alright."
"Warriors! With me—slay them!" Rider charged on horseback.
"Kill!"
Thousands roared and surged forward. The Assassins didn't stand a chance—wiped out in moments.
White light flashed—and they were back.
"Impressive," Shichen admitted. If not for the King of Heroes, Rider might have been the strongest contender in the war. An army of Heroic Spirits was no joke.
"Hahaha, Saber's Master, you flatter me."
"I'm just telling the truth."
"Then go easy on me next time?"
"I'd like to, but I doubt you'd want that," Shichen smirked.
"True enough…" Rider chuckled. "Next time we meet, we'll be true enemies."
"No other way. Just look at what you did to my Saber's morale."
"Hahaha, then she's lucky—to have you as her Master."
"I'd say so too."
~~~
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