MMMS 68

"What's going on... is the enemy actually charging straight for us?"

Just as Irisviel's knees began to buckle, a pair of strong arms caught her firmly around the waist.

"It's Rider," said Ryuuto, who had somehow appeared beside her without a sound.

"Lord Ryuuto, are you feeling better now?" she searched his face. Rather than looking sick, the boy simply seemed to be in a foul mood.

He gave a noncommittal grunt. "Iri, take Lancer and go meet them. Morgan and I will set up an ambush from behind."

She nodded quickly. She and Lancer rushed through the castle corridors, making their way directly to the terrace beyond the entrance.

"Hey, King of Knights! I came all this way just to see you, so hurry up and show yourself!" The booming voice belonged to a massive red-haired man with thick eyebrows and muscles that threatened to burst through his clothing. Without question, the enemy who had strolled through the main gate was none other than Iskandar.

Artoria stepped in front of Irisviel protectively, facing him with an authoritative tone. "...Rider, what brings you here?"

"Hey there, Lancer! I heard stories about this castle and thought I'd come check it out myself. Pretty impressive place you've got!" Rider flashed a shameless grin, teeth gleaming in the moonlight, then made a show of stretching his neck dramatically. "But as castles go, you've got way too many trees in the backyard. I almost got completely lost before finding the gate, so I cleared some out for you. You can thank me later. The view is much better now."

"Rider, after such reckless behavior, you don't seriously think you can just walk away unharmed, do you?" Artoria gave him an icy stare, her voice perfectly controlled despite her anger.

In response to her cold yet stunning beauty, Rider burst into hearty laughter and raised the wooden barrel he was holding, waving it enthusiastically before them.

"Come on now, don't be so harsh, King of Knights. I'm just here to share a drink with you."

"..."

Lancer studied Iskandar with her eyes. The giant standing before her genuinely showed no intention of fighting. Faced with an opponent who radiated no hostility, she couldn't even maintain her anger, only releasing a soft, resigned sigh.

["Master, what should we do?"] she asked Ryuuto through their mental link.

At that moment, he was nestled comfortably in Morgan's lap.

After spending the entire day brooding over Fanatic's mysterious disappearance from everyone's memory, he'd decided to seek some comfort in Morgan's embrace.

From the attic at the highest point of the castle, Morgan cradled the boy against her as they watched every movement in the courtyard below. Unlike the chilly garden outside, the attic had been warmed by Caster's spell, making it as snug and inviting as a greenhouse.

["There's nothing wrong with accepting his offer. Go ahead and drink with him,"] he replied. ["This is his way of challenging the King of Knights. Just show him your royal dignity."]

As his response reached the King of Knights, Morgan's long lashes fluttered slightly, a subtle reaction crossing her face.

A flicker of surprise crossed Artoria's face.

["Did I say something wrong?"] he asked, noticing her reaction.

["Not at all. I just realized this is the first time you've actually given me a proper order."] Lancer's tense expression melted away as she let out a soft laugh. ["Though it might be a bit late to mention it, I think we could actually get along quite well, Master."] At the very least, better than with her previous Master.

]"Are we talking about physical compatibility?"] he couldn't help but tease.

["It would be even better if you could work on your habit of making inappropriate comments."]

As his conversation with her ended, he tilted his head back with a helpless look, offering a wry smile to Morgan, whose cherry-pink lips were now pressed into a thin line.

Without him noticing, Morgan's slender, pale arms had coiled around his waist like a possessive snake, squeezing tightly.

"Um... Miss Caster, you're holding me so tight I can barely breathe."

…

Observing how Lancer's expression had shifted to one of calm determination, Rider spoke up. "Looks like you've made your decision. If we're all good, let's settle this with drinks, shall we?"

"Interesting. I accept your challenge." Receiving her Master's command for the first time since this summoning, Lancer responded with firm resolve, radiating the same commanding aura she would display on any battlefield.

The banquet was arranged beside the flowerbed in the castle's courtyard. Even with the biting cold of the outdoors, the spirits of everyone joining the drinking session burned with excitement.

Rider hauled his wine barrel to the center of the courtyard where the two Servants sat across from each other in a casual standoff. He smashed the barrel's lid with a single punch, immediately releasing the rich, heady aroma of red wine into the crisp night air.

"Oh, now that I think about it," he suddenly looked up with a playful gleam in his eye, "there's actually another person around here who claims the title of King."

As if summoned by Rider's words, a brilliant golden light flashed across the clearing.

The ancient hero, dressed in magnificent golden armor, materialized in the courtyard of Einzbern Castle.

"Archer..." Lancer's eyebrow twitched as she directed undisguised hostility toward the newcomer.

"It seems someone isn't happy to see me." Gilgamesh, resting one hand on his hip, met the King of Knights' cold stare with a casual yet deadly smile.

Noticing how quickly the atmosphere had soured, Rider jumped in to ease the tension. "Ah, I bumped into him on the street and invited him to drink with us. He's late, this golden guy. Unlike me, he came on foot, so you can't really hold it against him."

"Hmph..." Gilgamesh folded his arms across his chest and turned his face away with a haughty sniff.

In Fate/Zero, the King of Heroes had been utterly obsessed with Saber, desperate to add her to his prized collection. Yet his attitude toward Lancer Artoria seemed completely opposite. Her impressive height, generously curved figure, the divine aura that clung to her, and those softly glowing eyes in the darkness—the King of Knights of the Holy Lance embodied practically everything the King of Heroes detested.

Whether you consider his pursuit of Saber Artoria in Fate/Zero, his affection for a human teenage girl as young Gil in Fate/hollow ataraxia, or his gentle behavior toward his child Master in Fate/strange Fake, all evidence suggests that humanity’s oldest king might possibly be a lolicon. So it’s no wonder he and Lancer didn’t get along.

"You really chose such a dreary spot for a banquet. Is this the best your taste can offer? I came all this way—how do you plan to make it up to me?" Gilgamesh completely ignored Lancer, directing his complaint at Rider instead.

"Don't be so harsh. Come on, have a drink first." The giant laughed good-naturedly as he handed him a ladle brimming with wine. Gilgamesh took it without hesitation and drained it in a single swallow.

"What is this subpar swill? You dare use such inferior liquid for a contest between heroes?" With a sneer, a shimmering portal opened in the air behind the King of Heroes.

A collection of dazzling, gem-encrusted containers emerged from the entrance of his treasury, each filled with a crystal-clear, colorless liquid. "Now this," he proclaimed with pride, "is the wine of a king."