HBWnovel Chapter 109 No Longer Confused
Chapter 109 No Longer Confused
Emiya Kiritsugu took the photo, his pupils suddenly contracting.
In the photo, the Matou mansion has been reduced to ruins.
"Last night, around midnight, the church's magic detectors and our familiars on the outskirts both detected anomalies," Maiya reported in a low voice.
"Initially, a small-scale magical defense reaction broke out at the Zenjo family's residence, which was located in another block."
But almost at the same instant, an extremely terrifying source of magical energy erupted from beneath the Matou family's basement, and then...
Maiya pointed to another blurry snapshot of a night scene:
"After the first burst of magic, our infrared drones captured a high-intensity source of magic that left the Tohsaka residence at near fighter jet speed."
It traversed half of Fuyuki City in a matter of minutes, landing precisely at the Matou residence. Judging from the magical energy waveform, it was that male King Arthur.
Kiritsugu's fingers, which were holding the cigarette, suddenly paused, and a long piece of ash fell to the ground.
"He sensed Matou Ryogen's sneak attack on the Zenjo family, which immediately triggered a counterattack that transcended visual distance, completely burning away the source."
Then, with this terrifying mobility, he personally arrived at the scene to clean up the mess…
Kiritsugu's voice was terribly hoarse, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.
"Perception covering the entire city of Fuyuki, precision strikes that ignore physical distance, and exceptional mobility that allows them to traverse the battlefield at any time..."
Kiritsugu threw the photo on the table, his eyes turning fierce and resolute like a wolf's.
"Our only chance of winning is to pierce the Master's heart!"
Just as Kiritsugu was adjusting his plans, the meticulously maintained, tranquil, and elegant courtyard outside the castle welcomed two more distinguished guests.
hum!
A dazzling golden ripple spread through the air as Gilgamesh, clad in his luxurious golden armor, stepped out of the void.
He looked around at the desolate forest and the courtyard paved with rough stone slabs with extreme disgust.
"To actually allow me to settle in this desolate wilderness without even a throne, this is truly a barbaric land that lacks manners."
Immediately afterwards, a golden magical energy carrying starlight and a gentle breeze swept across the forest.
Arthur, clad in silver-white armor, descended beside the stone slab as if stepping on invisible stairs.
"Oh! You're all here! Now everyone's here!"
Iskandar laughed heartily, scooped up a spoonful of red wine with a large wooden ladle, and casually offered it to Gilgamesh, who had just landed. "Come, taste what I've brought..."
"Take it away." Gilgamesh didn't even glance at the wooden spoon; he merely sniffed slightly, and his face showed extreme displeasure.
"This is the wine you prepared? This inferior, acidic water isn't even worthy of being used to wash my feet, yet you dare to use it to entertain the king?"
"Oh, don't be so picky," Iskandar said, scratching the back of his head somewhat awkwardly.
"Hmph, you bastards, since you dare to call yourselves kings without knowing your own limitations, then I, the king, will show you mercy and let you witness the true 'King's Wine'."
Gilgamesh snorted coldly, and the void behind him rippled.
Four pure gold goblets engraved with extremely intricate and beautiful divine patterns, and a gold goblet inlaid with countless gemstones slowly emerged.
The moment the wine bottle was opened, a rich, almost tangible aroma of wine instantly filled the entire courtyard.
Just smelling this fragrance makes one feel as if their soul has been cleansed by some supreme nectar.
"It smells so good! What kind of wine is this?!" Iskandar's eyes lit up, his earlier embarrassment vanished, and he was practically drooling.
"This is the finest wine from the divine era in my royal treasury, unique in the world."
Gilgamesh sat down arrogantly, and the wine was automatically poured into four golden cups.
Four kings sat on the ground around a stone slab on this late autumn afternoon.
Even without anyone releasing any killing intent, the collision of four distinct yet world-class auras of kings still made the air feel as heavy as mercury.
Hiding in the corner, Weber even found it difficult to breathe.
Iskandar picked up the golden cup, drank it all in one gulp, and let out a long, extremely satisfied sigh.
"Fine wine! Truly befitting a king's status! Now, Golden King, and the two Knight Kings, let's get down to business."
The Conqueror King put down his wine glass, his wild and imposing eyes fixed directly on Artoria sitting opposite him.
During last night's battle at the docks, he keenly observed the almost collapsing sorrow of this young female knight when facing Berserker.
Based on his knowledge of British legends, he thought he had seen through the little girl's weakness.
"Saber, at this banquet, the question I most want to ask is about you."
Iskandar abandoned his usual roughness, and his tone became extremely authoritative:
"Last night at the dock, you looked like a lost little girl crushed by a crown."
I've read the legends of Britain, and you want to use the Holy Grail to change that history...
Are you regretting drawing that sword, wanting to erase your past as a 'king'?
This question, like a sharp javelin, pierced the depths of Artoria's soul.
Gilgamesh, standing to the side, curled up a mocking smirk, ready to watch the tragic heroine make a fool of herself.
Arthur, meanwhile, quietly held the golden cup, his emerald eyes filled with expectation.
If it were yesterday's Artoria, faced with such a direct questioning of her weakness, she might have been angry, or she might have tried to defend herself.
But at this moment, Artoria simply gazed quietly at the clear liquid in her glass that reflected the blue sky.
A gentle breeze ruffled her golden hair, and her expression was as calm as the sea after a storm.
"You are right, King of Conquerors. Before last night, I was indeed a fool blinded by regret."
Artoria raised her head, her clear voice echoing in the courtyard, without the slightest tremor or attempt to escape.
"I once thought that it was because I didn't understand people's hearts and because of my incompetence that the Round Table collapsed and Britain was destroyed."
"I crave the Holy Grail so that I can go back in time, stop myself from pulling the sword from the stone, and shift the responsibility of salvation to a king superior to me."
At this point, she turned her gaze to Arthur, who was sitting to the side.
That was the reflection she once longed for, but now, all she sees is serenity.
"However, I have already had that cowardly hypocrisy shattered by a true knight king."
Artoria looked at Iskandar again, and a dazzling light, even more blinding than the sunlight, suddenly burst forth from her emerald green eyes!
She gripped the golden cup tightly in her hand, as if she were holding her invisible sword of victory!
"A king may shed blood for his country and die on the battlefield, but he must never deny the history he has shared with his people!"
If I deny that past, I am denying all the knights who died for me and were proud of me!
Her voice grew louder and louder, carrying an undeniable, truly regal air:
"So I changed my mind, Iskandar! I will no longer run away, and I will no longer try to erase that history!"
If I obtain the Holy Grail, I will use it to heal the ravaged land of Britain.
I will carry on the wishes of those who sacrificed their lives and rebuild a new nation on those ruins!
That heavy path of kingship, paved with blood and fire, shall be borne by me, Artoria Pendragon, forever!
When this resounding declaration was made, the entire courtyard fell into a long, deathly silence.
Iskandar had prepared a whole host of arguments, but now they were all stuck in his throat.
He stared wide-eyed at the petite girl before him, as if he were seeing a golden lion reborn from the ashes in a desperate situation.
"Haha...hahahahaha!"
After a full half-minute of stunned silence, the Conqueror King suddenly burst into a deafening burst of maniacal laughter. He slapped his thigh hard, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration:
"Fine! Fine! Saber! You actually want to carry the burden of a destroyed nation on your journey! What a heavy, greedy, and domineering path this is!"
Although it goes against my path of conquest, you, little girl, are indeed a true queen!
Iskandar raised the golden cup sharply in salute to Artoria.
Meanwhile, the mockery in Gilgamesh's eyes vanished. He narrowed his crimson snake eyes slightly and let out a cold snort.
"Hmph, you've abandoned your clownish, laughable tragedy and chosen a more thorny path instead?"
Although it's still a futile struggle, at least you, lioness, have become slightly more worthy of my attention.
The King of Heroes gently shook the golden cup, and for the first time ever, he refrained from uttering any insults.
Arthur sat quietly, saying nothing, but simply raised the golden goblet in front of him, across the central stone slab, and gently gestured towards Artoria.
Seeing Arthur's action, Artoria also raised her glass.