Sakura and Shirou's hands remained clasped together.
After hearing Shirou's declaration, Illya kept spacing out even after she came back to her senses. She stopped resisting, but kept staring at the hands Shirou and Sakura held together.
"Illya, are you happy being called Big Sister?"
Having finished her own wine, Guinevere stepped behind Illya. She leaned down, speaking softly, and gently blew air into Illya's ear.
"Hmph, I won't take his heart."
"Hmph, it's not up to you. All of your magic circuits will be transplanted into Shirou Emiya's body."
This was something she had never heard before, but it made her realize that the heart transplant from Shirou was not a simple death sentence.
After quietly sighing, she thought it over, her fingers constantly fidgeting, and then said:
"Auntie Guinevere, just tell Illya the whole story..."
It was a coquettish tone as she turned around and grabbed Guinevere's hand. Although this was exactly what Guinevere had hoped for, she still couldn't help but smile foolishly when it actually happened.
With her and Illya's explanations, the King of Heroes also understood what was about to happen.
"Boring. Is this the future that can amuse this King, as you claim?"
It was a garden, and everyone was sitting on a picnic cloth spread on the ground. Only the King of Heroes, when he started drinking, leaped onto a nearby lamppost, looking down at everything.
In response to his words, Guinevere first leaped onto another lamppost to be on equal footing with him, mocking him like a child competing:
"It is quite boring, but after you've seen the other Archer's Noble Phantasms, you shouldn't feel bored anymore. Besides, when Shirou Emiya obtains Archer's Noble Phantasms and Illya's magic circuits, he will have a great chance of defeating you head-on.
Doesn't such a possibility amuse you?"
Guinevere said all this because she naturally wanted to make the King of Heroes interested in Shirou Emiya, so that he wouldn't kill him immediately out of interest.
And Guinevere bet correctly, the King of Heroes made the choice that fit her understanding.
"Guinevere, you have indeed piqued this King's curiosity, making this King willing to act as insurance for you. As you wish, if the transplant later goes wrong, this King will intervene."
"Heh, I didn't ask you to intervene, so I don't owe you anything for it."
"Heh, you may consider this as this King's mercy upon you all!"
Due to his extra memories, the King of Heroes placed extreme importance on the alliance between Guinevere and Saber, but towards other Masters and Servants, he still maintained his haughty attitude.
He knew Guinevere's purpose in saying those words, and he also knew there was no absolute need to fall into her trap, but what did he have to fear? A mere immature boy of a Master.
"Guinevere, I shall wait for him to come and provide this King with amusement."
At this moment, the King of Heroes was actually quite pleased, otherwise he wouldn't have used the third-person "this King" several times in a row.
Less than ten minutes later, the final pair of Master and Servant for today's banquet, Rin and Archer, finally arrived at the venue.
Last night, after Guinevere had left, these two had also chatted a lot, but they were mainly discussing whether Rin would continue the war after Archer's exit.
A short skirt, over-the-knee socks, and a red long-sleeved summer shirt. Today, Miss Rin Tohsaka looked more like a little devil, and her absolute territory seemed like something one could play with for a whole year.
'Ah, these thighs that are just the right amount of toned.'
With a brief glance, that line from the original story suddenly surfaced in Guinevere's mind.
She smiled, jumped down from the top of the lamppost, walked up to Rin, and said, "Rin, you're late."
"You only said tomorrow during the day, you didn't say a specific time. Besides, isn't it your fault I overslept? Who told you to visit so late?"
"But Sakura and Emiya must have slept even later than you, they still had to fight a battle! If you can't get out of bed, just say so, I won't laugh at you!"
Guinevere already knew that Rin had a habit of sleeping in, but Sakura and Emiya were the first to react with embarrassed fury to these words.
"Assassin Mama!"
"Assassin, you..."
The different forms of address caused Guinevere to leap in front of the two, but her gaze met only Emiya's.
"I... a... a... Assassin Mama."
Holding his forehead, Shirou Emiya didn't even know how he had managed to say that name, but he wasn't the only one who'd do it like that, Archer was also holding his forehead.
Now, these two, who completely looked nothing like each other, finally looked a bit like they were the same person.
"I say, Assassin, have you played enough? If you have, I'll begin."
"Wait, Archer, have you forgotten that there's still something I want to find out? The King of Heroes also happens to be here."
Ever since Guinevere leaped away, Rin's gaze had been fixed on the King of Heroes in his casual clothes. She took several steps forward, looked up at the Servant she had met ten years ago, and spoke:
"It's been a long time, Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes. Can you tell me how my father died ten years ago? And how you came to become Kirei's Servant."
Guided by the events thus far, Rin had long been curious about this. She had simply held back her question because of the wedding; now was the perfect time.
"Little Tohsaka Girl, haven't you already figured out the answer?"
"I want you to tell me with your own words. I expect the magnificent King of Heroes would not deceive a 'little girl' as you say."
"Heh, interesting. Then this King shall tell you. Tokiomi Tohsaka died from his great insolence toward this King. And after being enlightened by this King, Kotomine Kirei stabbed him in the back as he followed his own true nature."
"Is that so? Then I want to know, did my father do something to offend Kirei?"
"You'll have to ask him yourself. But I suspect he simply wanted to pursue his own pleasure, like seeing the expression of disbelief on your father's face before he died."
As he spoke, the King of Heroes burst into laughter, causing Archer to step beside Rin, only saying her name: "Rin."
"Archer, go and do what you must. As we discussed last night, I will deal with Kirei myself. As for the King of Heroes, I expect Assassin to take responsibility."
At this moment, Rin still did not know about Guinevere placing her hopes on Shirou Emiya, but just as she had said, if Shirou Emiya failed to win, she would take responsibility for him herself.
And as the atmosphere in the courtyard gradually grew silent, everyone's gazes began to wander between Archer and Shirou Emiya, but it was Saber who took the initiative to step forward and say:
"Archer, as Emiya's Servant, do you mind if I fight a preliminary battle? Don't worry, I will not use lethal force to kill you."
Shirou Emiya had already seen Archer fighting twice, but he had never personally clashed with him.
Therefore, faced with Saber taking the initiative to fulfill her duty as a Servant, Shirou Emiya's choice was:
"Saber, thank you, but I refuse. This is my own trial."
Then, she was looked at dangerously by Sakura, who forcibly pressed her waist down, and said:
"Saber, then I leave it to you. After you fight, Rider will continue to face Archer's trial."
"Archer, future Senpai, you wouldn't mind fighting Rider, would you? Senpai and I have already established our relationship, so it's reasonable for Rider, as my Servant, to fight you."
Would Archer refuse? Even though he felt he couldn't defeat a single person, he pressed his hand against his forehead and accepted the challenge with grace.
"Saber! Come!"