In the video's comment section, after witnessing the surprisingly harmonious scene between Rider, Archer, and Elysia—a complete departure from the usual tone of the Holy Grail War—the viewers were truly stunned.
Over on the other side, Saber, Lancer, and Caster were fighting tooth and nail, and here you guys are, playing video games.
Setting the games aside for a moment... fine, play if you must. But the King of Heroes only won a single game out of a hundred, and only because his opponent threw the match? Good heavens, Gilgamesh, how bad are you? Even Elysia couldn't stand to watch anymore and had to let you have one.
King of Heroes: "Slander! Utter slander! Be it the strategy of battle or the pleasure of games, this King is always the strongest. How could I possibly have such a disastrous record?"
Conan: "Don't struggle, King of Heroes. Just admit it, you're bad. But it's okay, at least you used your superpower of cash to win the respect of the staff and the children."
Eden: "Elysia goes online often, but her gaming skills are about average for a normal person. Your performance... is truly a bit hard to watch."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Perhaps the Oldest King has never encountered this type of game before. To be honest... that level of skill is so low even a grandpa in a village who just got internet access could crush him."
Eriri: "Hey, don't be so harsh. Didn't he say it himself? He hasn't activated that... what was it... 'All-Knowing, All-Powerful Star of Wisdom' yet. If he did, he'd totally dominate."
King of Heroes: "Insolence! How could this King possibly use a Noble Phantasm for a mere game?!"
---o---
[As the comments flew, the scene in the video quickly shifted to nighttime. After all, night was when the Holy Grail War truly began.
The camera moved to Einzbern Castle.
After the great battle of the previous night, the castle was covered in damage. Irisviel and Saber remained inside the dilapidated fortress.
Suddenly, Irisviel sensed something. A thunderous roar came from nearby, and the subsequent shockwave of magical energy meant that the Bounded Field in the forest outside the castle was under attack.
She turned to look outside, her body showing a slight discomfort that twisted her expression in pain.
Seeing this, Saber immediately rushed to her side with concern. "Irisviel, what's wrong?"
Irisviel looked nervous. "Someone has broken through the Bounded Field... Are they attacking so brazenly from the front because they know Kiritsugu isn't here?"
Hearing this, Saber extended her senses and her expression turned serious. "This magical energy and the sound of thunder, coupled with such a reckless tactic and attitude... There's no mistaking it. The intruder is Rider!"
The next moment, the camera cut to the castle's main hall. Two black bulls charged into frame first, followed by a chariot. The roar of thunder and the clatter of hooves and wheels on the stone floor announced the identity of the arrivals.
It was the King of Conquerors and his Master, Waver!
The chariot came to a stop after entering the hall, its charge halted. Saber, fully armed and in a battle stance, emerged and stood at the top of the grand staircase on the second floor. Irisviel hid behind her, peering at the scene.
However, when Saber, who had prepared herself for a fierce battle, got a clear look at the King of Conquerors, she was stunned.
The King of Conquerors was not wearing his usual Macedonian leather armor and long red cape. Instead, he was in casual clothes—the white t-shirt with a world map on the chest from the game "Great Strategy," which he had bought behind Waver's back.
The audience was speechless. No wonder the King of Conquerors wanted to play games with the King of Heroes and Elysia; it turns out he was an avid gamer himself. Dressed like that, he looked less like he was here for a fight and more like he was here for a sightseeing tour.
Upon seeing Saber, the King of Conquerors even broke into a hearty, magnanimous grin and raised his right hand. "Yo, Saber!"
Saber: "...?"
Irisviel: "...???"
Coming back to her senses, Saber demanded to know what the King of Conquerors was planning. She had been ready to attack immediately, but his unconventional attitude made her wary, suspecting some kind of plot.
The King of Conquerors ignored Saber's question and patted something beside him. The camera moved, and the audience could finally see a wooden barrel there.
He then heaved the barrel onto his shoulder. The sloshing sound from within indicated it was full of liquid.
At the same time, the rich aroma of wine wafted from the barrel.
With an expression that said "isn't it obvious," the King of Conquerors declared, "You still don't get it? I came to have a drink with you! Oi, don't just stand there, lead the way! Is there a courtyard suitable for a feast? This castle is too dusty, it won't do."
Saber: "...?"
Saber let out a weary sigh, the anger that had been building in her chest vanishing into thin air. Looking at this opponent who seemed to harbor no ill will, she found it impossible to maintain her fighting spirit.
"Irisviel, what should we do?"
Irisviel was just as baffled.
She had been furious when the forest's Bounded Field was destroyed, but after seeing that cheerful, smiling face, she couldn't bring herself to hate him either.
"He doesn't seem like the type to lay traps... Could he really just want to drink?"]
---o---
In the video's comment section—
As expected of the King of Conquerors, such an unpredictable act was definitely something he would do. Just like when he wanted to play games with the King of Heroes and Elysia, he was always capable of the unexpected.
If the Holy Grail War were decided by video games, it might actually be quite nice. Unfortunately, this was a war of mutual slaughter, destined to be won only by the one with the strength to survive until the very end.
Yukino Yukinoshita: "The King of Conquerors' intentions are likely not as simple as just drinking. Choosing this specific time to meet with King Arthur must have a deeper meaning."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Perhaps an alliance. After all, based on the power they've each shown so far, neither of them alone is a match for the King of Heroes."
Conan: "Not necessarily. The King of Heroes' power and presence are undeniable, but I feel that someone as unconventional as Rider wouldn't choose that path to defeat him."
Schicksal Overseer: "Correct. If it were merely for an alliance, he would not have chosen to seek out Saber, who is also a king. Nor would he have brought wine. I wonder if you all recall: he intended to hold a feast. A banquet of kings. And in this Holy Grail War, besides the King of Magi hiding behind the scenes, there are only three kings."
L: "Is that so? And just today, he also encountered the King of Heroes, another king."
A banquet of kings... one had to admit, this prospect excited the entire audience. These three were all kings of great renown. Powerful rulers from different eras meeting at the same feast—the anticipation was off the charts.
---o---
[In the video—the location for the banquet was chosen to be by the flowerbeds in the castle's central courtyard. Last night's battle hadn't reached here, and it wasn't too shabby a place to receive a guest. At this point, no one cared about the outdoor chill.
Rider brought the wine cask to the courtyard, and the two kings sat on the ground. Irisviel and Waver stood behind their respective Servants like attendants, one trying to guess how things would unfold, the other realizing this was a temporary truce and that he just needed to watch from the side.
The two kings faced each other, their presence and aura palpable. Although neither was intentionally exuding their power, the formless pressure made Irisviel and Waver not even dare to breathe too loudly.
The next moment, Rider smashed the lid of the barrel with his fist. The rich, mellow aroma of red wine instantly filled the courtyard air.
Then, the King of Conquerors took out two wooden cups, filled one using a wooden ladle, and tilted his head back, downing the entire cup in one go.
"I've heard that only the most worthy can obtain the Holy Grail, and that this conflict in Fuyuki is a ritual to select such a person."
His serious tone calmed the atmosphere. For this man to speak in such a manner felt somewhat out of place.
"But if it is merely a selection, there is no need for bloodshed. If the Heroic Spirits could simply gauge one another's caliber, the answer would naturally reveal itself."
"..."
As he spoke, the King of Conquerors had already filled the second cup with fine wine and passed it to Saber.
Saber accepted it with grace and downed it in one gulp, her drinking speed no slower than the King of Conquerors', full of bold spirit.
Saber's slender frame might make one worry if she could truly hold her liquor, but seeing her drink so heartily, in a way that didn't lose out to him at all, Rider let out a pleased sound of praise.
"So, you wish to first test whose worth is greater? Rider."
"Precisely. A true contest in the name of 'King'. But in that case, it wouldn't be a 'Holy Grail War,' would it? A 'Holy Grail Dialogue' would be more fitting... In the end, between the Knight King and the King of Conquerors, who will become the 'King of the Holy Grail'? A question most fittingly asked over a cup of wine."
Rider's tone shifted from its earlier seriousness as he smiled mischievously. Then, he spoke again as if to himself.
"Ah, speaking of which, there is another who calls himself 'King' here."
"—The jesting ends here, mongrels."
As if in response to Rider's cryptic words, a dazzling golden light flashed before them.
That voice and that light caused Saber and Irisviel to stiffen immediately.
"Archer, why are you here...?" Saber demanded sharply, but it was the unfazed Rider who answered her.
"Ah, I invited him for a drink when I saw him in town—but you're late. Hmm? Where's the other person? Didn't you say she was coming too?"
Another person? Was there a fourth king in this Holy Grail War besides them?
Just as Saber was wondering, Gilgamesh spoke up. "Hmph—that woman's speed is much faster than this King anticipated. She arrived at this place long before this King did."
"Hi~ Irisviel! It's been two days, did you miss me? I really missed you, you know~~~"
As if responding to the King of Heroes' words, the pink-haired girl appeared in the center of the clearing as if from thin air. She gave a friendly greeting to Irisviel, the only person present with whom she'd had any real conversation.
Irisviel cried out in shock, "Elysia—!!!"
She could never have imagined why Elysia would be mixed up with Gilgamesh and the King of Conquerors.
Before she could say anything, however, the King of Heroes looked around the area and spoke coldly, "You dare to hold a 'Banquet of Kings' in such a lifeless place? Forcing me to come to such a location, how will you atone for this, mongrel?"
His voice was unhurried, but it was laced with a chilling killing intent and an infinite pressure.
The two Masters present felt the heat of that aura and their faces paled in fear. Irisviel subconsciously took two steps back, while Waver was so terrified he unceremoniously fell and sat on the ground.
However, in the face of this glittering king, Elysia just smiled breezily. "Don't be like that~~~ Kin-pika. The environment here is actually quite nice. You can tell Irisviel takes good care of it."
"Kin... pika?" What was that? A new title for the King of Heroes?
This time, it wasn't just the audience watching the video who laughed; even Waver and Irisviel in the video almost lost their composure.
The King of Heroes, always clad in that sparkling golden armor, really was a "Kin-pika" (golden-sparkly).
But faced with Elysia's address, Gilgamesh, surprisingly, did not get angry at her 'disrespect'. Instead, he replied, "You have some nerve to say that, woman. No matter how lifeless it is, this is a banquet for kings. That you are allowed to participate is a great honor in itself."
Gilgamesh's words were as infuriating as ever, but for some reason—perhaps because he had spent half a day playing games with Elysia—his tone was not quite as high and mighty. It was as if he now saw Elysia as someone on his own level.
He wasn't wrong about one thing, though. Elysia was not a king. This needed no explanation; one could tell just by looking. She possessed neither the pride and majesty of a monarch, nor any proof of kingship.
Her flighty personality and sincere way of treating others meant she simply didn't have the disposition of a king. So why was she here?
This was a question not only on Waver's and Irisviel's minds, but also on the minds of the entire audience.
Elysia sighed. "Kin-pika, what era do you think this is? There are no kings in the traditional sense anymore. Even the king of the very country we're standing on has become a mascot. The times... they've changed. While I may not be a king, I am the Number Two of a certain powerful organization—"
As she said "Number Two," Elysia couldn't help but puff out her chest, looking extremely proud. Her own magnanimous chest caused Saber to cast a complicated glance at it.
"Number Two? Hahahahaha! You are this excited and proud over being a mere Number Two? A king is one who reigns supreme over the world. There is no such thing as being 'second to one'."
Gilgamesh couldn't care less about Elysia's organization. In his view, a king must reign supreme, above all others. A number two was just a number two. Even if she had some say, she would never have the final authority in her organization.
(Of course, for Elysia's sake, Gilgamesh wouldn't mind helping her become Number One. As for the original Number One, if he was unwilling to be second to her, he could quietly meet his end under this King's treasures.)
Before Elysia and Gilgamesh could say more, the King of Conquerors, who had been enjoying the show, spoke up. "Hahaha! The words of a king are for all people. Whether Miss Elysia is a king or not, since she has come here to listen with an open heart, she is more than qualified to participate in this banquet—"
As he spoke, he had already produced a new wooden cup, filled it with wine, and offered it to the golden, sparkly king.
Instantly, Gilgamesh's crimson eyes turned to the King of Conquerors, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
Seeing this, Saber subtly shifted her body, putting herself in a position to stand and protect Irisviel at a moment's notice.
Elysia, however, showed no reaction at all. Gilgamesh might have a sharp tongue, but he wouldn't cause trouble here. Rather than worrying about that, she was more interested in what the content of the coming banquet would be.
After all, everyone present was a king who had ruled over their people. They all had their own unique understanding of the word 'human'. She was quite curious to see what sort of fascinating things would come up at this feast.
Just as Elysia expected, a few seconds later, the sharp aura around the golden king suddenly dissipated. He looked down at the cup of wine offered by the King of Conquerors and, quite unexpectedly—to the astonishment of many—he took it and drank.]