novelhk Chapter 100 The Uninvited King
Chapter 100 The Uninvited King
The sea breeze at the pier carried a simmering, magical aura.
Arthur approached Artoria, and Artoria's grip on her sword tightened slightly.
Arthur suddenly placed his hand on Artoria's shoulder.
The warm touch of a living person emanating from through the armor sent a shiver down the spine of the king, who was on the verge of emotional collapse.
"You should be proud as a king, not pray for miracles as a sinner."
Artoria raised her head and met Arthur's emerald green eyes.
On that face, so similar to her own yet brimming with vibrant life, she saw only a serene acceptance of fate.
"Pride...?" Artoria curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile, her eyes filled with broken sorrow.
"When the hills of Camlann are piled high with corpses and seas of blood, when the knights fall apart because 'the king doesn't understand people'..."
What's the point of that pride that belongs only to me?
"..."
Arthur knew that in this world, the girl in front of him was experiencing a kind of self-destruction called "perfectionism".
The sword in the stone at his waist was slightly hot, as if it were lamenting the tragic end of another wielder.
"Britain has never denied you, Artoria."
Arthur said softly, but the Holy Sword's grand will to encompass all things and protect the planet made the magicians secretly watching feel suffocated.
"Whether they followed you or betrayed you, they all saw the light under the banner called 'King Arthur'."
What truly negates all of that... is your own heart that refuses to forgive itself.
Artoria did not respond.
Just then, the night sky in the distance was suddenly torn apart, and a muffled and violent thunder rumbled in.
"Boom!!"
That was by no means a natural thunderstorm, but some kind of magical force that trampled on common sense and crushed the void.
Two muscular, thunder-spitting divine bulls pulled an ancient chariot, descending from the sky amidst swirling purple lightning.
Finally, it crashed to the ground with a loud thud, carving two more charred, deep trenches into the already devastated dock.
A burly giant with red hair and a red beard stood proudly on the chariot, laughing loudly.
Beside him stood a shivering boy, Webber Velvet, clinging tightly to the carriage.
"My name is Iskandar! The people call me the Conqueror!"
The giant spread his arms wide, making a loud declaration with an air of complete vulnerability and dominance.
"He descends in this Holy Grail War as a Rider."
Since we have the honor of witnessing two heroes who call themselves "King Arthur" tonight, then, heroes present, are you interested in joining my ranks?
"Give me the Holy Grail, and let's conquer the stars together!"
This bold and almost absurd declaration of amnesty instantly brought the already heavy and tense battlefield atmosphere to a standstill.
Diarmuid gripped his twin pistols tightly, looking utterly helpless.
Artoria was also jolted awake from that abyss of sorrow, staring in astonishment at the red-haired giant who was completely unpredictable.
"You noble spirits dwelling there! Before my royal presence, why not put away your self-pitying expressions!"
However, before the Servant on the other side could respond, the boy beside him was already on the verge of collapse.
"What are you doing! You idiot! Idiot, idiot, idiot!!"
Webber Velvet frantically tore at Iskandar's large cloak, his handsome face flushed red with extreme fear and shame.
He screamed in a low voice, "That's my real name! How dare you shout your real name out in a place like this! Don't you have any common sense as a Servant?!"
"Haha, it's alright, Master."
Iskandar stretched out his large, fan-like hand and gave Webber a resounding flick on the forehead, making the boy see stars.
"If you're going to conquer, you have to do it honorably. How can someone who doesn't even dare to show their name command the world's submission?"
He looked back at the center of the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over Arthur, Artoria, and Diarmuid, a sense of triumph in his eyes:
"So, gentlemen, what's your decision? Join my ranks, and once we've conquered the world, I'll give each of you one of the Holy Grail!"
"Conqueror King, your heroic spirit is truly admirable."
Arthur released his hand from Artoria's shoulder and took half a step forward.
Even when facing a giant as large as a small mountain, his composure remained undiminished; he smiled, but his eyes held a clear and resolute determination.
"But in my world, the lands of Britain are the end point I will defend with my life, not the starting point for expansion."
My sword is wielded only to protect, not to serve as a pawn on your path to conquest.
"Hmph, so this is the kind of rigid answer you're used to." Iskandar wasn't annoyed and turned to look at Artoria.
Artoria had already gripped the invisible sword again, and her previous confusion was temporarily suppressed by the dignity of a king.
She stared coldly at the giant, her voice clear and crisp:
"Iskandar, what kind of nasty joke are you making?"
"I am also the monarch of Britain, and no matter how great your king may be, I will not bow down to you."
"I find this proposal difficult to accept." Lancer Diarmuid raised his red spear.
"The only person I will offer the Holy Grail to is the new monarch who will make a pact with me in this life, and certainly not you!"
"Oh dear, they're all so incredibly stubborn."
Iskandar scratched his stubble-covered chin, then his gaze suddenly swept past the three men in front of him and fell into the dark, deep shadows surrounding the harbor.
"Now that the king and warriors have all gathered here, shouldn't the rats hiding in the dark corners come out too?"
His voice suddenly rose, carrying an overwhelming and majestic aura that swept across the entire dock:
"Servants hiding in the shadows, I have already sensed your sneaky presence!"
To be a hero, yet to spy on others' duels like rotten meat in a gutter, is a disgrace to the hero!
"If you refuse to submit to me, then step forward and respond to my invitation with your martial prowess!"
The air tensed up to an extreme in an instant.
Kiritsugu Emiya, sitting on the crane, gasped for breath; he could even feel the thunderous roar ruffling his hair.
Assassin, lurking on the factory rooftop, felt a strange sensation of his soul being burned under the intense gaze of those enormous, bell-shaped eyes.
"Seriously... in this place that reeks of rust and sewers, how can there be shameless stray dogs barking like this?"
A voice filled with arrogance and coldness fell from the sky without warning.
With Iskandar's provocation, Gilgamesh, who had been secretly observing the battlefield, could no longer tolerate this farcical "chaotic dance of demons".
Brilliant golden light spots converged at the top of the tallest street lamp.
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.
Clad in dazzling golden armor, arms crossed, he looked down at those below with a gaze that seemed to regard them as mere ants.
As a Servant of the Tohsaka faction, he originally came here following Arthur's aura.
Arthur's "tender" self-redemption conversation had already bored him to the extreme.
Iskandar's arrogant remark crossed the line for the King of Heroes.
"Arthur." Gilgamesh glanced sideways at the blond knight below, his tone clearly displeased.
"I thought you would use your holy sword to shatter that boring woman's delusions, but I didn't expect you to play this pointless, self-indulgent game here."
Now, even this uncouth barbarian dares to shamelessly call himself "King" before me. How long do you intend to stand idly by?
Arthur slightly raised his head, looking at this oldest king who would never restrain his arrogance even in front of his allies, and sighed helplessly:
"If you feel that he has disturbed your enjoyment, you can come down and negotiate with him yourself."
I'm busy with 'household chores' and don't have time to deal with your guests.
"Hmph, family matters?" Gilgamesh's gaze then shifted to Artoria, who was standing there dumbfounded.
The girl standing next to Arthur did indeed have an aura extremely similar to Arthur's.
But the deep-seated regret and gloom emanating from her, as if she were about to shatter at any moment, made him feel extremely disappointed.
This foolishness, however, gave him a bit of amusement in watching the spectacle.
But that's all for now.
"This is your 'other self'?" Gilgamesh sneered, and several golden ripples appeared in the void behind him, as the Gate of Babylon was poised to be unleashed.
"Compared to your rather dazzling soul, she is more like a resentful woman abandoned by history."
Such a dull woman doesn't even deserve to be in a corner of my collection.
Arthur raised his head, his emerald eyes appearing deep and clear in the moonlight, staring directly at the arrogant golden shadow atop the streetlamp.
"It seems that even those eyes that pride themselves on seeing through all the treasures of the world can sometimes be clouded by their arrogance."
Arthur's voice was not loud, but it carried a gentle yet penetrating quality, echoing clearly across the desolate dock.
"You call her a bitter woman?" Arthur tilted his head slightly, glanced at Artoria beside him who was still holding her sword despite clenching her teeth, and his tone became sharp.
"No, that is the purest 'prayer' that refuses to bow to fate even when in the mire of despair."
Although she appears gloomy now because of her regret, that is proof of her deep love for that country as a 'king'.
Isn't this attitude of pursuing ideals even at the cost of one's soul more valuable than the cold, lifeless objects in your treasure trove?
Gilgamesh's gaze suddenly turned cold, a dangerous glint appearing in his crimson pupils:
"Arthur, are you teaching me how to judge 'beauty'?"
"I'm not lecturing you, I'm just stating the facts."
"Hey, hey, you golden-haired young man up there." Iskandar fearlessly grabbed the reins of the oxcart and pointed at Gilgamesh with his thumb.
"Although you are dressed very elegantly, it is not very polite to say such things to a knight."
"King Arthur's resolute spirit is exactly my type...whether male or female!"
"Wild dog, who gave you permission to look me in the eye?"
Gilgamesh's gaze instantly turned icy, and several Noble Phantasms, gleaming with a chilling light, slowly emerged from the golden vortex.
At the heart of the battlefield, the magic of the four kings clashed violently in the air.
"It seems we're destined to have a quiet heart-to-heart talk tonight."
Arthur lowered his center of gravity slightly and gripped the holy sword tightly with his right hand again.
The Dragon's Furnace within his body was operating steadily and powerfully, like a volcano about to erupt.
He didn't turn around, but his deep and decisive voice clearly reached Artoria's ears:
"Artoria, if you can't free yourself from the past, then first tighten your grip on your present sword."
Before becoming a sinner, you are first and foremost a knight who protects others.
Now, with the enemy in front of you, what should you do?
These words, which speak directly to the knight's heart, are like a wind that dispels the fog.
The confusion in Artoria's eyes gradually faded, and the clarity and sharpness belonging to the King of Britain once again took hold.
Yes, Irisviel is still standing behind her; now is not the time to be confused!
She took a deep breath, and the invisible sword in her hand once again unleashed a chilling pressure under the moonlight.
"I understand, Arthur."