"You're right. The one who ultimately conquers the world may not be me. In fact, that dream itself is little more than an impossible fantasy."
"But... so what?"
Iskandar smiled with his usual carefree confidence, utterly unmoved by Waver's attempt to challenge his convictions.
Seeing that Iskandar didn't look the least bit surprised, Waver frowned in confusion.
"So you already knew that conquering the world was impossible? Then why would you still—"
"Boy!"
Iskandar interrupted with a booming voice before speaking earnestly.
"Ideals and dreams... there's a world of difference between trying and failing and giving up because you think you'll fail."
He suddenly changed the subject.
"Tell me, are you afraid of dying?"
"Huh? What's with that all of a sudden?"
Waver looked utterly baffled, and, seeing how unwavering Iskandar remained, couldn't help feeling disappointed.
"I asked you," Iskandar repeated, "are you afraid of death?"
"...Who... who isn't?"
Turning his head away, Waver reluctantly admitted the truth.
"Exactly."
Like an older brother, Iskandar slung a massive arm around Waver's thin shoulders despite the enormous difference in their size.
"Everyone dies. You die when your lifespan runs out. You die if someone kills you. But has anyone ever abandoned life simply because they know they'll die someday?"
"The outcome is important, yes. But it's the journey that truly makes you who you are."
"If everyone is destined to die anyway, then why doesn't the whole world just commit suicide and get it over with? Why keep living?"
"Why..."
Waver wanted to answer.
But no words came.
That's right.
Why do people live?
It was a question every bit as profound as Who am I?, Where am I?, and Where am I going?
"The question itself is meaningless!"
Waver suddenly shouted for no apparent reason.
"Exactly! Completely meaningless!"
Iskandar answered with an even louder roar.
"See? You've already found the answer to your earlier question. It doesn't need one!"
He burst into hearty laughter, enthusiastically slapping Waver on the shoulder, delighted to have found a kindred spirit.
"You're hitting way too hard!"
Blushing, Waver protested.
"Hahaha! Sorry! Sorry!"
Iskandar laughed it off—without easing up in the slightest.
Waver could only sigh in exasperation. His gaze drifted toward Iskandar's mountain-like muscles, and he couldn't help wondering whether he should start working out himself.
The two wandered aimlessly through the streets of Fuyuki City.
Pedestrians were few and far between. Many still hadn't recovered from the horrifying catastrophe of the previous night.
Grief and loss lingered over every street corner.
From time to time, they saw people collapsing in tears after learning of the deaths of family members or friends. Others cried over homes they had only recently purchased, now swallowed by the disaster.
Suffering was everywhere.
The atmosphere gradually darkened Waver's expression as well—not because he had personally lost someone, but because he had suddenly realized something.
"Even if we somehow won the Holy Grail War with someone as unbeatable as you, I still wouldn't have anything to be proud of. And besides... we don't stand a chance of winning anyway!"
His voice was filled with frustration.
"Boy, winning the Holy Grail War isn't the only way to prove your worth."
"You don't have to make things harder on yourself or carry that kind of burden."
"To be honest, this Holy Grail War is a horribly unbalanced game to begin with."
"The fact that you've managed to survive this long is already something you can be proud of."
"Don't think I'll thank you just because you say that!"
Waver clenched his fists tightly.
"You don't understand what it's like for me! Compared to a military genius and a king who built an empire like you, I'm just an insignificant nobody!"
The words poured out in one breath, his face practically screaming unwilling to accept it.
In a war he knew they were destined to lose...
He still wanted to win.
"What a troublesome kid."
"If the wish you wanted to entrust to the Holy Grail were a grand ambition worthy of capturing even my imagination, then I, the King of Conquerors, would gladly fight under your command."
"But your wish is just to grow a little taller."
Iskandar gestured at Waver's height with a thoroughly unconvinced look.
"Don't decide my wish for me!"
Waver exploded in embarrassment, wildly pounding Iskandar's broad chest with a flurry of completely ineffective punches.
"Hahahahaha!"
Iskandar puffed out his chest and laughed heartily, enduring the barrage as though indulging a sulking younger brother.
Only after Waver had exhausted himself—his palm resting against Iskandar's chest as he panted for breath—did Iskandar gently place one large hand on the boy's head and vigorously ruffle his hair.
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