Talking, fighting, getting spanked, and so on, all the way until dusk.
By this time, Saber had both understood Guinevere's origins and also understood that she was angry at her for being so passive.
But in the end, could she really try again? What if she failed again...
In the room, Saber rubbed the spanked area. Under the lingering sting, she truly took one thing to heart.
That was: if she could start over, she would properly teach Mordred and would not neglect her.
"Hey, Saber, are you still not ready? The guests have started arriving, come out and help!"
After the afternoon battle, Saber had gone back to her room to wash up. There's one thing that's great about the modern era: hot water is available at all times.
"Assassin, I'm coming out right now."
This was her third outfit, the suit she had worn during the Fourth Holy Grail War. In the mirror, it was a young knight with a trace of sorrow between his brows. Because time had stopped for her at fifteen, Saber-chan looked completely natural even in men's clothing.
Taking a deep breath, Saber stepped out of her room. Standing before her, Guinevere had also changed her clothes, now wearing an evening gown that perfectly complemented her figure.
Moreover, as Guinevere completely deactivated the disguise ability granted by the [Blessing of the First Hassan], her stature appeared even more slender and mature, making her look four or five years older than Saber.
"Come, Saber. For tonight's banquet, you will be my dance partner."
Stunned, the two gazed at each other. When Guinevere extended her hand, Saber did not refuse, but instead took it with the proper etiquette of a knight.
"Weren't you asking for my help?"
"You told me to wait a moment. The guests have already been helped."
A few steps away lay the courtyard of Ryudou Temple, where several sets of tables and chairs were arranged. Emiya, Sakura, Rin, and Issei Ryuudou were all working there.
They attended the same school and, after receiving the same invitation, chose to return together after school.
Among them, Issei Ryuudou was the only one unaware of the Holy Grail War. He had been hypnotized by Rin on the way back to the city, only waking up groggily after arriving at Ryudou Temple.
That is to say, on the way here, Emiya chatted a lot with the sisters Sakura and Rin. For example, Sakura's Mana Deprivation had flared up again, and with Rider's help, she was reverse-pushed by 'Sakura' herself.
Thus, in Guinevere's line of sight, she saw Emiya and Sakura being much less reserved. Whenever Sakura prepared to lift a heavy object, Emiya would run over to grab it for her.
The teenage boy and girl, or at least the boy, had already gotten a taste for it.
"Saber, it seems my taking you away last night actually unexpectedly brought about a good thing!"
The ambiguous atmosphere was such that even with Saber's ignorance of human nature, she could still sense it a bit. In her daze, she was led by Guinevere to stand in front of Emiya and Sakura, and saw Guinevere giving a thumbs-up to the Rider in civilian clothes standing behind them.
In an instant, Saber understood even more clearly and frowned as she looked at Sakura herself.
"Sakura..."
"Saber, what are you trying to do? If you want to congratulate Sakura, you can do it later; this is Caster's wedding venue."
As expected of the King's insight, and especially her sensitivity to Sakura's Mana changes, Saber understood. The truth was that Sakura herself shouldn't have been the one to achieve Mana replenishment with Emiya.
However, Guinevere likely saw things more clearly. When she, acting as an elder, spoke up to stop her, Saber said nothing more.
"Sakura is just like you, lacking in confidence. But the problems you two face are different, and her problem is no longer something I should be managing."
In the courtyard, the King of Heroes had also arrived. He was also in civilian clothes, with his feet propped up on the table, looking at everyone in the courtyard with a gaze reserved for mongrels.
"Guinevere, you really are gentle, aren't you?"
The King of Heroes knew more about Sakura's physical condition than Guinevere did. Moreover, after arriving and taking a single glance, he saw that he had not yet completely fulfilled his promise to Guinevere.
The main body of the Old Worm in Sakura's heart was dead, and the Worm Pit the Old Worm left in the Matou House had been completely destroyed, but there were still some remnants in Sakura's body.
Without mockery, without provocation, without making things difficult, a promise made must be carried out to the end.
"Take this and give it to that mongrel to drink. It is a treasure of Shenzhou that can reconstruct the body. However, if she drinks it, she will no longer have the function of the Holy Grail. How will you save the other little girl named Illya?"
The King of Heroes had memories of fighting Guinevere in another Fourth Holy Grail War. He knew she would surely also care for Illya, for Guinevere had helped Illya's parents a great deal in that other Fourth Holy Grail War.
The King of Heroes wanted to see how Guinevere would choose in this trolley problem.
The sound of the wind, the laughter, and the noise all fell silent because of the King of Heroes' unlowered voice.
Emiya and the others were all looking at the King of Heroes. Even Archer couldn't help but manifest, his gaze fixed on the jade bottle in the King of Heroes' hand.
"In this world, I can do what the Holy Grail can do, and I can also do what the Holy Grail cannot do. This is the power of the Noble Phantasms of this King, Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, specially authorized by the World Will!"
Boasting? No, the King of Heroes was merely stating facts. His gaze only changed when looking at Guinevere and Saber; he looked at everyone else as if they were trash.
"Choose, Guinevere! And Saber, I ask you once more, are you willing to become this King's concubine? The Holy Grail cannot fulfill your wish, but this King can!"
It was a taunt, a provocation aimed at Guinevere. After throwing the jade bottle, the only thing left between the King of Heroes and Guinevere was truly revenge.
Friendship? That didn't mean one couldn't find amusement at a friend's expense. On the contrary, precisely because they were friends, all the more reason to find amusement.
"I say, King of Heroes, you don't actually think I'd still get angry over something like this, do you? Is this all you've got? Or rather, I'm more curious about Saber-chan's choice. If she wags her tail for you, I'll chop her to death!"
Guinevere truly spoke these words through gritted teeth, her heart far from the calm she displayed on the surface.
As for the jade bottle, she handed it to Sakura and half-forced her to drink it, trusting that the King of Heroes would not provide something useless.
To be honest, the King of Heroes was willing to clear out the hidden dangers within Sakura's body as well. Guinevere would have to acknowledge this favor, though the King of Heroes probably wouldn't consider such a minor cleanup a personal debt.
As for his question...
"Guinevere, between Sakura and Illya, did you choose Sakura?"
"What kind of sweet dream are you having? With how well you know me, you should know I'll take them all! Just you wait and see! I'll save Sakura, and I'll save Illya too."
As Guinevere's words fell, Sakura, who had drunk the water from the jade bottle, already showed changes.
There was no pain, no accident, only after a faint Buddhist light and a wave of clear fragrance, Sakura's inside had completely changed.
And the jade bottle still in Guinevere's hand was taken back by the King of Heroes' [Gate of Babylon].
"This thing..."
"It's a later forgery. If it were the genuine article, it would have more than just this effect."
Still wearing that same expression of you are all trash, the King of Heroes saw what Guinevere wanted to say. After getting Guinevere's answer, he was now awaiting Saber's response.
This Saber, during the banquet with him, her, and the King of Conquerors in the Fourth Holy Grail War, had performed extremely poorly. It was extremely amusing to him, making him want to keep her as a collectible.
"Saber, what is your answer? Are you willing to discard even your own last shred of dignity for your ideals?"