"Come now—our contract has already ended. From this moment on, we're nothing more than strangers. Go wherever you want!"
Turning his back, Waver bit down hard on his lip.
Only now did he realize the truth.
So... I really am this much of a coward...
Damn it...
Just then, a sudden feeling of weightlessness overtook him. Before he knew it, Iskandar had grabbed him by the back of the collar like a kitten and lifted him into the air.
"Of course I'm leaving immediately. But after giving me such a long string of orders, you've already prepared yourself to witness how it all ends... haven't you?"
"If you don't have the courage... then I'll lend you mine."
"You idiot! Idiot! Idiot!"
Waver flailed wildly in midair.
"I told you—I don't have any Command Seals left! I gave up being a Master! So why are you still taking me with you?!"
Iskandar set Waver down in front of him on Bucephalus.
The great black stallion proudly lifted its head in welcome. During their time together, even the fierce-tempered horse had grown fond of the young magus, almost like an affectionate father. Waver reminded it of a younger Iskandar—still standing at the threshold of an unknown future.
Iskandar's broad, bronze hands gently held Waver's slender waist to keep the inexperienced rider from falling.
Then, with heartfelt sincerity, he said,
"Even if you're no longer my Master... you're still my friend."
"Can... can someone like me really... become your friend...?"
Waver looked back at Iskandar with eyes filled with gratitude and insecurity.
His face slowly flushed crimson.
The tears he had been holding back finally burst forth.
"I... I... someone like me... can really... stay by your side...?"
He nervously fidgeted with his fingers, too embarrassed to meet Iskandar's eyes.
Iskandar flashed a broad grin, revealing a row of white teeth, and laughed heartily as he patted Waver's shoulder.
"You've already fought beside me on the battlefield more than once, and you're still saying things like that?"
"You fool—we became friends a long time ago."
His voice softened.
"All this time, you've stood against the same enemies that I have."
"And those who share the same battlefield... are friends."
"The fact that you're only feeling fear now means your courage has already surpassed that of most people."
"So don't belittle yourself, boy."
"You're brave."
"If anyone dares call you a coward, then tell them this—"
"I, Waver Velvet, was personally acknowledged as a hero by the King of Conquerors himself. If you have any objections, go argue with him in the Throne of Heroes!"
"…They'd have to die first to do that," Waver muttered through tears and laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
Iskandar roared with laughter.
"That's exactly the spirit, Waver!"
"You can hold your head high and answer anyone who looks down on you."
"You don't have to care so much about other people's opinions."
"After all... the protagonist of your life can only be yourself."
After a brief pause, Iskandar folded his arms and gazed confidently toward the distant mountain.
His next words were calm, almost like a confession.
"Waver Velvet."
"I need you standing beside me."
"Wh—"
Waver's face instantly turned scarlet.
He grabbed a corner of Iskandar's cloak and shamelessly used it to wipe away his tears and runny nose before mumbling with a bright red nose,
"What's with that way of saying it..."
"That's completely unfair..."
"It seems your answer is 'yes.'"
Iskandar smiled with satisfaction.
"In that case... I'll begin by fulfilling your very first Command Seal."
He tightened his grip on Bucephalus's reins and lightly pressed his heels against the stallion's flanks.
The legendary horse let out a proud neigh before galloping into the sky, racing toward the source of the beacon.
"Yeah!"
"Go all out, Rider!"
"I'll be watching!"
Confidence returned to Waver's eyes.
Holding tightly to Bucephalus's neck and clutching two handfuls of its mane, he stared toward the distant battlefield with unwavering determination.
Meanwhile...
Leaving Fuyuki Church, Kirei Kotomine arrived at a mountainside overlook—a roadside platform overlooking the valley, only slightly lower than Mount Enzō.
"Kiritsugu Emiya..."
Resting one hand on the safety railing, Kirei gazed toward Mount Enzō with his usual hollow, pitch-black eyes, a faint crease appearing between his brows.
"Hmph... You look far more imposing tonight than usual, Kirei."
Not far away, Gilgamesh stood casually atop the metal guardrail in everyday clothes, as though he had some strange obsession with always occupying the highest point.
From his elevated perch, he looked into the distance with a teasing smile.
"So... what will you do?"
"Our opponent has openly issued a challenge."
"One way or another, we ought to answer it."
"Though I must admit... finding ourselves on the receiving end for once is quite an unusual experience."
Golden magical energy surged around Gilgamesh.
The steel railing beneath his feet groaned before collapsing downward under the pressure.
"They've chosen Ryūdō Temple—the location with the strongest Spiritual Foundation—as the site for the Holy Grail's summoning ritual."
"That was only to be expected."
Kirei spoke evenly.
"Mount Enzō is open terrain and far removed from the city."
"It's the perfect battlefield for you to unleash your full power."
"I imagine Saber (Leon) intends to settle everything in a direct confrontation."
"However... given the scale of destruction you and Saber are capable of, there's a possibility the ritual itself could be damaged."
"So I'd ask that you keep your battle near the foot of the mountain—or at most halfway up."
"Oh?"
Gilgamesh raised an amused eyebrow.
"From the sound of it... you aren't planning to accompany me?"
"Of course not."
Kirei answered without hesitation.
"Staying beside you would only reduce me to debris scattered by the aftershock of your battle."
"I doubt you have the patience to babysit me."
"Hahaha!"
Gilgamesh laughed.
"You judge people well, Kirei."
"Very well."
"Then let each of us seek our own delight."
"Be sure you enjoy yourself."
"I certainly will."
An eerie smile spread across Kirei's lips.
His left hand wrapped around his right arm, the one engraved with Command Seals.
"Of course... if you're away from me and I happen to be attacked by someone like Berserker without a Master present..."
"In that kind of hopeless mismatch, I'll use a Command Seal to summon you to my side."
"It may interrupt your battle."
"Will that be acceptable?"
"Granted."
Gilgamesh answered without the slightest hesitation.
"So long as it isn't at the moment I deliver my finishing blow... summon me as often as you like, Kirei."
The two exchanged knowing smiles.
"Then I have nothing to worry about."
"Thank you for your generosity and understanding."
Kirei inclined his head respectfully.
A short while later...
The resplendent Vimana carried Gilgamesh and Kirei toward Mount Enzō.
At least until they reached the mountain, they were headed in the same direction.
It should have taken only an instant.
Instead, Gilgamesh noticed something unexpected.
His vision—far keener than that of ordinary humans or even most Servants—immediately picked out a familiar figure moving through a forest near the foot of Mount Enzō.
"…What?"
"To think such a thing would happen..."
Gilgamesh suddenly raised a hand.
The Vimana came to an abrupt halt in midair.
"What is it?"
Kirei asked, puzzled.
At this stage of the Holy Grail War, there should have been no one besides Saber (Leon) worthy of drawing Gilgamesh's attention.
"Heh..."
"You should thank me for this, Kirei."
Rather than answering, Gilgamesh merely smiled mysteriously.
Under Kirei's puzzled gaze, he sent the Vimana diving from the heavens like a hunting falcon.
The craft plummeted toward the ground at terrifying speed, giving the person below no chance to react or cry out.
It swept low in a blur—
Then immediately shot back into the sky.
"You—?!"
When Kirei finally recognized the person Gilgamesh had seized, whose mouth was firmly covered to prevent any sound from escaping, his brief shock was instantly replaced by overwhelming delight.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"So this... is fate!"
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