[Inside the light screen projection, after bidding farewell to Elysia, Marisbury moved to a deserted location.
He gazed at Fuyuki City's most prominent landmark, the Fuyuki Ohashi Bridge, feeling a hint of emotion. Soon, the King of Conquerors and the King of Heroes would both meet their end on that very bridge, and the final victory of the Holy Grail War would be his.
At some point, a white-haired man in ancient robes appeared behind Marisbury. However, due to the camera's angle, the viewers could not see his face.
Though he stood perfectly still upon appearing, a special aura and a faint trace of magical energy emanated from him, giving off the distinct impression that he was no ordinary person.
"Among the Servants in this Holy Grail War, I imagine only that arrogant King of Heroes could pose even a slight threat to you," Marisbury asked.
He had absolute faith in his Servant's power. Perhaps the King of Heroes' strength was beyond imagination, placing him at the very pinnacle of the concept of a Servant, but to the king before him, he was merely a minor threat. After all, the King of Heroes would soon be facing a true[Grand].
Under the watch of the multiverse audience, the mysterious Caster finally spoke, responding to Marisbury's words. "Yes, the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, is strong. I can defeat him, but it would require thorough preparation."
"What about Elysia, then?" Marisbury asked again. "A person whom even your eyes, which can see through the past and future, cannot perceive. Are you confident you can defeat her?"
This time, the mysterious Caster hesitated. He paused, seemingly contemplating how to answer. Finally, under Marisbury's gaze, he replied, "I cannot be certain. I am unable to see through the power within her body, nor do I know the specifics of her strength."
"Is that so?" Marisbury wasn't surprised, casually remarking, "When you think about it, our original enemies were only the few Servants in this Holy Grail War and that power."
"And you, you eliminated the threat posed by that power ahead of schedule. Using nothing more than the residual energy from my Command Spells, you successfully had Ryuunosuke Uryuu summon a Caster, deceiving even the Holy Grail itself into believing they were the true Caster pair."
"Now, there's just one more uncertain variable. But there's no need to worry. From the very beginning, we, just like that young lady, have been the variables in this Holy Grail War."
Speaking of this, Marisbury couldn't help but marvel at his Servant's divine mastery of magecraft. With a touch of awe, he praised, "I can only say, you truly are the King of Kings, the Caster of Casters. In your hands, even the most profound mysteries of magecraft are like toys to be manipulated at will. Perhaps it is for this very reason that you were crowned with the title, King of Magi."
After hearing Marisbury's effusive praise, the man known as the King of Magi remained calm and silent. It was as if he were accustomed to such words, or perhaps he simply didn't care, his indifference so profound that it was impossible to sense any emotion from him.
Fortunately, Marisbury was used to this dynamic. With this king's temperament, he could probably get along with any Master. After all, he possessed the ability to maintain his existence without relying on a Master and could even nullify the Command Spell system.
If he so wished, he could break free from any restraint and manifest in the mortal world. Even though Marisbury's own skills in magecraft had reached the zenith of the modern era, in the eyes of the King of Magi, they were on the level of child's play.
Nearly all modern magecraft was meaningless against him. The Command Spell system, the pride of the Holy Grail War, which could even force a rampaging Berserker into submission, was nothing more than a decoration in the eyes of that king.
Throughout the entire scene, the mysterious Caster's face was never shown. All that was revealed were parts of his clothing and a single, somewhat dark-skinned hand.
On that hand, every finger wore a silver ring.]
---o---
In the light screen's comment section, with the appearance of the true Caster, countless people sucked in a cold breath. The King of Magi was the real Caster of this Holy Grail War.
Ryuunosuke Uryuu and Bluebeard were nothing but fakes. No wonder a man who didn't even know about the Holy Grail could summon a Servant. It was all a setup. Not only was Ryuunosuke Uryuu deceived, but likely everyone else in that Holy Grail War had been fooled as well.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura: "That Caster's true identity… Who is he? His presence is so overwhelming, not even the King of Heroes is a match for him?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "That must be an exaggeration. Didn't they say Gilgamesh stands at the peak of all Servants? There shouldn't be a Servant stronger than him."
Madara Uchiha: "Hmph, you'll have to ask the man himself. With so many clues given, the person in question should have already figured out his identity."
Gilgamesh: "..."
Gilgamesh: "The King of Magi, rings, dark skin, and… [Grand]. This king does indeed know his identity. Though it is unbelievable, there is only one Heroic Spirit who possesses all these traits simultaneously."
Following the King of Heroes' statement, the comment section fell silent. What kind of Heroic Spirit could make even Gilgamesh feel a sense of disbelief?
Just as everyone was about to ask Gilgamesh for the answer, his next words sent a shockwave through the entire audience.
Gilgamesh: "I must admit, in my current state, I have no chance of victory against him. Not in terms of power, nor in strategy or disposition. If it were a more mature version of myself, with all the treasures in the Gate of Babylon, I might have a chance to win if I fought to the death."
Shocking. No, "shocking" was no longer enough to describe it. The King of Heroes, that impossibly arrogant king, had just admitted that he was weaker than someone else. He even described a potential fight between them as one he'd have to risk his life to win.
For a moment, everyone wondered if the King of Heroes' account had been hacked. It was unthinkable that he would ever say such a thing.
But now, the irrefutable truth was laid bare before them all. The king had indeed acknowledged his own shortcomings, admitting that he would lose to that mysterious Caster.
Conan Edogawa: "So, King of Heroes, his true identity is…"
Gilgamesh: "The third king of ancient Israel. The one who hastened humanity's farewell to the Age of Gods and Mystery. The king who established the art of manipulating phenomena with human hands alone. The King of Magi—Solomon!"