Little Garden 66-70

Title: Artoria Loses Completely

“Interesting, not only is your armor style similar, but you’ve even learned my Invisible Air?”

Aslan looked at the wary and angry Saber before him. Pretending to be confused, he held his chin and examined her, commenting.

“Could it be, Saber, that you’re my fan?”

“As far as I know, there was a man named Charlemagne who admired me so much, he loved imitating me.”

“He even liked shouting ‘Excalibur’ when swinging his sword, and could even unleash light slash attacks with his sword swings.”

“Umm, actually, from a fan’s perspective, the role of King Arthur you’re playing is quite good.”

“If King Arthur were indeed a girl.”

“But how could King Arthur become a girl? Hahahaha.”

As he said this, Aslan burst into loud laughter.

His comments shocked Saber and Irisviel. What could they say? They were the original King Arthur.

How could they be fans of King Arthur?

Saber was now the most confused.

What should she say now?

Should she declare that she was King Arthur?

But if she said so, would anyone believe her?

Even she herself slightly doubted whether she truly was King Arthur.

After all, from any angle, Aslan looked more like King Arthur than she did.

Even Saber Lily, the White Knight who had just drawn her sword, commented.

“Perhaps only an existence like him is the true King Arthur?”

As Saber Lily, who had just drawn the Sword of Selection, she still had many uncertainties about her future, unsure if she could truly become the King of Britain.

This made Saber even more sorrowful. After all, nothing was more painful and unspeakable than doubting oneself.

Saber tightly gripped the sword in her hand and pointed the invisible blade toward Aslan.

“I think we don’t need to talk much. Since we’re both Servants, let’s speak with the swords in our hands?”

“Speak with swords? I agree.”

Aslan said with a relaxed expression.

“Then, let me see if you, as my fan, and having taken the Saber class, are worthy of making me draw my Holy Sword?”

One simple sentence again made Artoria’s blood pressure skyrocket. A fan again, the Saber class again—the opponent was truly looking down on her!

Even her other self couldn’t hold back and prepared to attack.

Artoria considered her mentality stable. Even during Mordred’s rebellion, she remained calm amidst chaos and pierced the ungrateful child.

But now she was truly shattered.

“Stop all this meaningless talk, let’s fight!”

Artoria didn’t plan to test further. She immediately activated Mana Burst. Her body was enveloped in blue Mana, and she charged toward Aslan, leaving blue afterimages.

“Speed is a bit slow, and the power of your swing isn’t strong enough.”

Although Aslan wasn’t very skilled in martial arts—or rather, one month was only enough for him to learn the basics—

He did possess the body of a Pseudo-Sun Star Spirit.

Absolute destruction brought by physical condition.

As Artoria swung her sword, Aslan sidestepped, dodged her attack, and immediately grabbed her wrist.

“What?”

Saber stared in disbelief and shock at Aslan’s hand gripping her right wrist.

Her physical parameters were now extraordinary. With the Grand Spirit Origin, becoming All A wasn’t an exaggeration.

Yet even in this situation, she could be caught, showing just how strong Aslan was.

“Sorry, although you’re my fan, I still have to say—your attack is very weak.”

Even only at a Six-Digit level, not even reaching Five-Digit.

It was estimated that even if Artoria unleashed her Noble Phantasm, she might not defeat Arthur Proto.

As he spoke, Aslan forcibly twisted her wrist without hesitation.

“Umm!”

Saber felt a piercing pain. She knew her wrist might be broken.

“Damn it, let me handle this!”

An angry voice echoed in Saber’s mind. It was Saber Alter.

Saber Alter couldn’t bear to watch such a useless Saber.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

Saber immediately went offline.

Aslan noticed the change in Artoria’s body. Though he could interfere, out of curiosity, he released her wrist and observed.

Instantly, Artoria’s blue armor turned black, and the sword in her hand also became more vicious.

“One strength can pierce through everything, my fan. If strength and speed aren’t enough, no matter how strong your technique and will, it’s useless.”

Aslan smiled, again grabbed Saber Alter’s sword-wielding hand, and applied a little force.

Saber Alter felt pain, and her hand involuntarily released the sword. It naturally fell to the ground. Then Aslan released her.

There was no resistance at all.

“Your strength to me isn’t even as strong as a little girl’s resistance. Oh right, I almost forgot—you’re also a little girl.”

“You bastard!”

Saber Alter couldn’t help but curse. She’d never felt this angry, wanting to tear someone’s mouth apart.

But she seized the chance when Aslan wasn’t paying attention, picked up the sword from the ground, and prepared to unleash her Noble Phantasm at Aslan.

“Excalibur—“

But Saber Alter’s Noble Phantasm hadn’t even finished being released, Aslan had already grabbed the Excalibur infused with massive Mana and slammed it down.

The gathered Mana instantly dispersed into the atmosphere.

“Right, this stance, this incantation—it’s exactly the same as mine. Even the power imitates parts of me.”

Aslan exclaimed in admiration, while pressing down Saber Alter and lifting her onto his shoulder.

“But why are you so stubborn, unwilling to admit you’re my fan?”

“Is fighting alongside an Arthur like me really that shameful?”

“But it’s fine, when facing my fan, my tolerance is limitless. After all, I’m also a knight.”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“Hey, you holding the spear, why aren’t you saying anything? You see us being harassed like this, and you don’t react at all?”

In the Round Table Conference within King Arthur’s mind, Saber Alter pointed at Lancer Artoria sitting to Saber’s left and shouted.

She had just been humiliated like this.

“What should I say? He’s also an Arthur. An Arthur from another world line, just like us.”

Lancer Artoria said very calmly. Based on her analysis, that male Arthur wasn’t lying. Whether Spirit Origin or Noble Phantasm, this male Arthur’s purity was indeed far higher than theirs.

“But even if we’re both Arthur, he can’t look down on us like this!”

“Can you defeat him?”

Instantly, the Round Table Conference in all Artorias’ minds fell silent.

In the position of King Arthur, Artoria lost completely.

“One day, I’ll make you acknowledge my identity as Arthur!”

-

Title: Who Is the True Caster Practicing Magic?

“Hey, you bastard, what do you want to do?”

Saber Alter punched the rude man who had lifted her up, struggling fiercely.

Could this bastard be planning to do something indecent to her?

As a Reverse Servant tainted by Black Mud, Saber Alter never stooped so low as to guess human intentions in the cruelest way possible.

Especially not this Arthur from an unknown world line.

“What can I do?”

Aslan said amusedly, but didn’t stop his movements. After all, although the people here had been cleared away,

This place was still in a residential area, on the streets. If he truly allowed Artoria to release that beam earlier, who knew how many people here would have been injured.

“Of course, I’ll teach a lesson to this disobedient little fan.”

Aslan said with a smile.

Manaka also followed beside Aslan with great interest. She was extremely curious about what Aslan would do. She was certain it would be very entertaining.

After all, wasn’t this part of their date too? Fighting by the prince’s side—what could be sweeter in the world?

As for Irisviel, worried about Artoria, after hesitating briefly, she immediately followed.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Fuyuki City, in an abandoned, sparsely populated warehouse at the dock.

Aslan clapped his hands and unceremoniously dropped Saber Alter, whom he had carried on his shoulder, without a shred of chivalry.

This made Saber Alter glare at him angrily.

“You bastard, you still dare call yourself a knight. You don’t have an ounce of knightly honor.”

After all, no one would consider a person who silently carries someone and then immediately drops them on the ground to possess any knightly honor.

Saber Alter brushed the dust off her body and pointed Excalibur, wrapped in Invisible Air, toward Aslan.

“So, Richard, haven’t you felt it yet? This clear, surging Mana.”

Aslan gently patted Saber Alter’s shoulder and pressed down on the sword in her hand.

Honestly, among all the Artorias, he found this Saber Alter the most interesting.

As he spoke, Aslan looked up and saw a purple figure standing on the Dragon Gate, holding a red spear.

“I didn’t expect the Lancer appearing in this Holy Grail War to be you, Shishou?”

Aslan said with slight surprise. Although he said he was surprised, he wasn’t actually that surprised.

After all, only a few existences could make Merlin unable to determine their identity.

“Shishou?”

Scáthach tilted her head in confusion. The next second, she immediately jumped down from the Dragon Gate and carefully observed Aslan.

“I don’t recall ever teaching you?”

Scáthach tried to remember. Although she had lived long enough, and many memories had faded over time, if she had truly taught Aslan, it should have left a fairly deep impression.

“Someone as beautiful and strong as you—if I had taught you, it would surely have left a lasting memory.”

After all, with a body like that, as long as combat skills were already proficient, under her guidance, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to gain the power to kill her.

“Shishou never taught me, but we could say we have quite a deep fate.”

The helper, attendant, head butler, and head knight of Queen Halloween were all Scáthach.

When he finished playing in this world and returned, Aslan would certainly deal with Queen Halloween and Scáthach. So, was this an early introduction?

The legend of King Arthur seemed to be an important part of Celtic mythology.

“That’s right. If I were still within the world, I might be very pleased to accept you as my disciple.”

Scáthach didn’t deny the fate between her and Aslan. She was essentially the most famous hero mentor in Celtic mythology. When she saw talent, she naturally became interested.

Right now, the Aslan before her was an unpolished rough stone.

No, it couldn’t be said that way. More precisely, he was a fine jade embryo.

“Who was your previous teacher? Your foundation is very good.”

“Since you call me Shishou, I must take responsibility as a teacher.”

Scáthach licked her lips. It had been so long since she last trained... educated a disciple, so she became interested now.

If that Demon God had never appeared, polishing this rough stone into a precious jade wouldn’t be bad either.

“I don’t think so. I don’t have much interest in becoming a Warrior.”

A true mage—who bothers playing melee? He wasn’t Merlin, who’d even bite his tongue while chanting incantations.

“Actually, I descended with the Caster class.”

“Hah?”

Artoria froze.

(You have strength like this and you call yourself a Caster?)

(Are you kidding me!)

Don’t just say Artoria—even Irisviel and Scáthach stared at Aslan in shock.

Wasn’t it said that the Caster attribute was the weakest? But you held back Saber with one hand and call yourself a Caster?

“Why, don’t you believe me?”

Aslan looked at the people who had absolutely no faith in him and shook his head helplessly.

Who is the true Caster practicing magic?

The Axe King of Uruk, the Fist King of Israel, the Sword Saint of Britain (Gilgamesh, Solomon, and Merlin). Do you know them?

They were all Grand Casters, the benchmark in the world of Casters.

“Then what about this Holy Sword of the Star?”

“This is a Staff, ah?”

“What about this armor?”

“This is a Robe. As a Magus, I’m afraid of close-range attacks, so it’s fine if I turn my Staff into a Holy Sword and my Robe into armor, right?”

Aslan spread his arms and said casually.

“So, did you know from the beginning that we’re also King Arthur?”

Saber came online and questioned Aslan. Then what he said earlier—that he was her fan?

Was the other party just playing with her?

“Umm.”

Aslan unconsciously nodded, then quickly realized he seemed to have said something wrong.

“No, no. How could a girl become a king.”

But at this moment, Artoria had no intention of listening to Aslan’s explanation. She raised Excalibur and slashed.

Then she was easily caught again by Aslan. After all, the difference in physical condition was too great.

“So, wouldn’t it be better to quietly become my fan?”

Aslan shook his head helplessly, if one ignored the smile on his face.

Actually, he had been eyeing Saber for a long time.

Although he could switch Ids by changing different Planeswalker cards, and he could also be revived with the help of Planeswalker cards,

There was one thing he couldn’t do—he only existed as one. He couldn’t be in two places at once.

But with Queen Halloween’s nature and intelligence, Aslan might realize that he wouldn’t betray Shiroyasha, and wouldn’t hide anything from her.

So she would certainly seek amusement elsewhere, like creating situations where his two identities appeared together at any time.

So it was better to prepare a Stand-In as a precaution.

-

Title: Artoria, Become My Knight!

“Why are you so obsessed with becoming a king?”

“Is the identity as King Arthur so important to you?”

“Isn’t your greatest desire to return to the past through the Holy Grail and rechoose King Arthur?”

Aslan whispered teasingly into Artoria’s ear.

For him, artificially creating a Lostbelt wasn’t difficult now. After creating a Lostbelt, he could package the entire compatible Earth into a Land Card.

Or, when he grew stronger, he could package the entire world line into it.

It was very easy—it was just one planet.

“You...”

Artoria wanted to argue, but the phrase “A King Does Not Understand The Hearts of The People” kept echoing in her mind.

The ruined nation, the rebellious army.

Before her death at Camlann Hill.

Artoria questioned herself—had she truly fulfilled a king’s responsibilities?

The answer, of course, was no.

“As a king, I couldn’t stabilize the nation; as a general, I couldn’t purge the traitors; as a husband, I couldn’t satisfy my wife...”

Artoria lowered her head. Her golden ahoge (cowlick) drooped, and her sea-green pupils darkened.

At this moment, Artoria showed her most sincere emotion.

It was regret.

“If at that time, it wasn’t me who pulled the Sword in the Stone, but someone else, perhaps Britain’s fate would have changed?”

If the one who pulled the Sword in the Stone wasn’t her, a woman, but the Arthur before her—who was stronger than her, better understood human hearts, and was more free?

What would happen to Britain’s fate?

The only certainty was that it wouldn’t be worse than before.

“So, Artoria Pendragon, what if you became my knight?”

Just as he had absorbed Arthur Proto’s Spirit Origin, Aslan could completely consume Artoria’s possibilities, her existence.

But Saber’s value was far higher than her Heroic Spirit form. Besides, Aslan didn’t lack such minor strength now.

“What if I replaced you, became King Arthur, and saved Britain?”

“What do you think, my little fan?”

Aslan’s voice rang in Artoria’s ears, entering her mind and shaking her soul.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

On the other hand, the Round Table Conference in Artoria’s mind.

Saber, sitting in the central chair, supported her chin with both hands and remained silent.

Aslan’s words truly touched her heart, and Aslan was indeed the most ideal version of herself in her heart.

Except for the slight “trashy” vibe he picked up from spending too much time with Merlin.

But because of that, Artoria increasingly felt that Aslan could lead Britain to its peak.

“Hey, don’t actually get moved. Don’t forget our true purpose!”

Saber Alter said unhappily. If there was an Artoria who hated Aslan the most, it was definitely her.

She was beaten, then immediately lifted up like a trophy!

She could accept being killed, but why be lifted up?

“I...”

Artoria was slightly at a loss for words. It was indeed her desire.

“I, Lily, think it would be great if he became king.”

The innocent and lively Artoria Lily said. She had just drawn the Sword of Selection and was very confused about everything.

She could now only be called a Knight Princess. She didn’t mind becoming another’s knight.

In fact, she really hoped to do so, because a king’s responsibilities were too heavy.

*CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH!*

A Lion King wearing a lion costume was quietly gnawing on the imagined Round Table in their minds.

She didn’t give any comments, just ate silently. After all, what could a Berserker think?

“Artoria, this is your choice. We can’t help you.”

Lancer Artoria looked at her very calmly. As the Artoria who chose to return the Holy Lance at Camlann Hill, she was also the ideal Artoria—the most mature king.

She had no regrets, or rather, she chose the world line where she personally returned the Holy Lance and went back to the earth.

Britain’s destruction was the collapse of the Age of Gods, an unavoidable history. Though she regretted it too, in the end, she had done the best a king could.

She wouldn’t interfere with Artoria’s thoughts.

Finally, Artoria in the central, most central chair, made the decision.

“I decide to become his knight and watch over his actions from the side.”

After all, she was already in the worst possible future. How much worse could it get?

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The next second, Saber exited the Round Table Conference in her mind and spoke to Aslan.

“I agree to become your knight, but how can you guarantee that you’ll fulfill your promise?”

Artoria stared at him firmly. If there was even a hint of doubt in Aslan’s eyes, she would immediately change her decision.

“I swear by the name of Arthur—if I don’t help Artoria restore Britain, then I shall never deserve the name of knight, nor the name of king.”

Aslan said lightly. After all, he’d gotten this name for free, so naturally, he had no hesitation in swearing.

At worst, he’d only need to shift one world line, or at most create a Lostbelt. He wouldn’t trigger a Historical Transition Period and change the entire history of all Type-Moon World world lines.

“Then I shall pledge my loyalty to you, King Arthur.”

In the end, Artoria made her decision—to become Aslan’s knight.

Done. Now even the Stand-In issue was resolved.

Indeed, this world was a treasure trove. Of course, it was also a dump.

He was still considering whether to let Little Garden’s Central Core observe this world.

“Have you finished talking with your knight? So, how about considering my opinion?”

“Since you called me Shishou, then become my disciple properly.”

Scáthach stared at Aslan and narrowed her eyes. From a senior and teacher’s perspective, she could naturally see Aslan’s immaturity and character.

But she couldn’t see beyond that. She didn’t know why, but Wisdom of Dún Scáith couldn’t be used in Fuyuki City.

She couldn’t locate the Demon God. Otherwise, she wouldn’t use Wisdom of Dún Scáith.

Now she was more curious about which world Aslan came from.

“But I already have my own master.”

Aslan shook his head. Although he could call her Shishou, Leticia was his martial arts master.

One month of intensive training was only enough to build the foundation. Leticia had carefully prepared a training plan for him.

So why should he create trouble for himself while on vacation?

“That’s truly unfortunate.”

-

Title: Truly Strong Like a Monster

“To be honest, I quite like you.”

Scáthach sheathed her red spear and gazed at Aslan, unable to explain what she was feeling.

Rather than a feeling, it was more like she was influenced?

As if she had already decided to accept this man as her disciple?

Scáthach herself wasn’t sure what kind of situation or emotion this was.

It was as if Aslan had already been favored by a higher version of Scáthach.

“But since you don’t want to, it’s fine. After all, I don’t want to create such a big rivalry with your little girlfriend.”

Scáthach shrugged and glanced deeply at Manaka.

As a Demi-God living beyond the world, she knew a little about this Root Princess.

“Of course. I don’t want my short vacation filled with schoolwork pressure.”

Aslan shrugged and held Manaka’s hand.

“After all, vacations should be enjoyed and relaxed.”

Manaka also quietly leaned against Aslan, showing their intimate relationship.

“If you say that, I’m even more eager to test your abilities.”

Scáthach stared carefully at Aslan. A short red spear had somehow appeared in her hand.

“Truly a monster-like existence.”

Spirit Core, eyes, heart, privates, legs, back... Although Aslan looked very relaxed, there was no defense anywhere.

But Scáthach’s intuition told her that no matter where she attacked, there would only be one consequence.

Provoking this man, whose aura was as strong as a star.

She would be reduced to dust in an instant.

“I’m utterly defeated in terms of physical ability.”

Scáthach sighed. She had hoped to die in battle against a powerful opponent.

Not like this—killed like a baby challenging an adult.

“So, do you want to fight or not?”

Aslan tilted his head, looking at Scáthach in confusion. He didn’t understand what was happening.

(Wasn’t it you who just showed fighting intent? Why did you suddenly stop yourself?)

He still wanted to test his strength.

The previous fight against Saber wasn’t enjoyable at all. Artoria’s movements looked like slow motion to him.

“Since you’ve invited me, I won’t hold back!”

Facing Aslan’s challenge, Scáthach showed a bloodthirsty smile.

An opponent strong in physical combat?

She’d defeated them before. Even beings called immortal—she didn’t know how many she’d sent to the world of the dead.

She wasn’t someone who feared an opponent just because they were strong. The stronger the opponent, the more excited she became.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

At the same time, at Miyoshi Bridge.

Waver held onto an iron pole, struggling hard to keep his eyes open while preventing himself from being blown by the sea wind. He looked at the harbor area in the distance emitting a massive amount of Mana.

“How is it, Rider?”

“It’s troublesome.”

Iskandar sat casually on the bridge, speaking while holding his chin.

“They haven’t even moved yet, but they’re already emitting such a strong aura.”

“Eh? They haven’t moved yet?”

Waver was shocked. Such massive Mana fluctuations just from breathing, and they hadn’t even started fighting?

Iskandar then spoke with a serious expression.

“That woman is very strong—no, extremely, extremely strong. In terms of combat skill, I estimate I couldn’t last even a minute against her. Not a single one of my troops could match her in combat skill.”

“Truly worthy of being a hero come to save the world?”

“And that man—he’s so calm under such pressure. He can’t be underestimated either.”

“Ah? Calm under pressure? That’s not to be underestimated?”

Waver was confused by Iskandar’s words.

Wasn’t that the most basic trait for Heroic Spirits?

If they couldn’t even withstand pressure, how could they be Heroic Spirits?

Iskandar didn’t explain. He just grabbed Waver’s collar and lifted him like a cat.

“No time, we have to go, Little Master.”

“Ah?” Waver froze, and then, seeing Iskandar summon the Ox Cart, he was immediately stunned.

“Wait, what are you going to do? Don’t tell me you’re going to interfere in the battle ahead?”

“Of course.”

Iskandar burst into loud laughter.

“I also want to invite the knight there to become my subordinate. If I don’t invite them, wouldn’t my coming here be meaningless?”

Hearing this, Waver’s face turned green, and he said angrily.

“What nonsense are you talking?”

However, Iskandar didn’t care. He carried Waver and jumped onto the Gordius Wheel, shouting.

“Overall, let’s go!”

“I don’t want to go!!”

Waver’s scream echoed across the sky.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The harbor area, Aslan and Scáthach’s battlefield.

*BOOM!*

The sturdy asphalt ground exploded, and steel containers shattered into scrap metal. Along with the items behind them, everything was thrown aside.

In the midst of rapid movement, Aslan’s fist stopped several centimeters in front of Scáthach’s face. The wind from his punch blew her bangs and smooth, silken purple hair.

“As expected, Shishou’s speed is still too slow.”

Aslan pulled back his fist and said slightly awkwardly.

The atmosphere in this world and in Little Garden was a bit too different. After all, the wind from his punch should have only blown hair.

If he hadn’t held back his strength outside Little Garden, he might have caused a tsunami.

Although Scáthach’s speed was fast, it was only several times the speed of sound.

Whereas when Aslan trained with Karyou and Leticia in Little Garden, their speeds could nearly reach light speed under the influence of Divinity.

Scáthach felt her hair slowly falling. The excitement in her eyes could no longer be contained. It was almost overflowing.

At that moment, she truly smelled the scent of death.

If Aslan hadn’t suddenly held back his strength, he would have fulfilled her wish.

No, now her wish had changed. She wanted to die in a life-or-death battle with Aslan.

Not killed in a way like this.

“Truly strong like a monster.”

Scáthach sheathed the short spear she hadn’t even swung. This gave her a deeper understanding of Aslan’s physique.

This might be the level where he could level mountains and split oceans with physical strength alone.

Even in the Age of Gods, Scáthach had never heard of an existence whose physical strength could rival Aslan’s.

“Hahahaha!”

A heroic roar sounded, accompanied by thunder and the sound of rotating chariot wheels. A war chariot crashed from the sky to the ground.

“Before their king, both sides must sheathe their weapons.”

-

Title: Iskandar Provokes Again and Again

*BAM!*

The Gordius Wheel rolled along the asphalt road, leaving black marks. Finally, it stopped in the middle of the square.

Standing atop the high war chariot, a red giant over two meters tall stretched his arms and declared loudly,

“Before this king, both sides must sheathe their weapons!”

Waver, staggering from the chariot’s speed, held his head and peeked out. Seeing the eyes on the ground, he nearly fainted.

“Rider! What are you doing again!”

Iskandar reached out, pressed Waver’s head, and pushed him back into the chariot, then spoke to everyone present.

“I am Alexander the Great, King of Conquerors, descending into this world as Rider in this Holy Grail War.”

Hearing Iskandar reveal his identity, Waver’s face turned green. Although this was to save the world, wasn’t the upcoming Holy Grail War the most important?

Now all the information had been leaked—what would happen to the future Holy Grail War?

“Are you willing to join under my banners and share the joy of conquering the world with me!”

As Iskandar’s words ended, a clear silence followed. Not a single person at the scene was persuaded by Iskandar.

Or rather, everyone present was a Heroic Spirit with their own goals and desires—how could they possibly be persuaded by Iskandar?

“Sorry, I won’t join under someone else’s banner and help them conquer the world. If anyone helps, it’s others helping me conquer the world.”

“How about you join under my banner?”

Aslan narrowed his eyes and looked toward Iskandar. Of course, he wasn’t interested in a bulky man like Iskandar.

However, this Grand Spirit Origin felt intriguing—perhaps it could be dismantled and studied.

“Young man, may I take that as a challenge to me?”

A hint of dissatisfaction appeared on Iskandar’s face. He could allow others to join under his banner, but he would never allow himself to join under someone else’s.

After all, a king could never submit to another.

“Hah? Didn’t you say that first?”

Aslan couldn’t help but raise his eyebrow and retort.

“You’re not the only king here.”

Queen of the Land of Shadows, Scáthach. King Arthur, Artoria.

Of course, Aslan wasn’t. He was just a Caster who happened to pass by.

“Sorry, I already have someone loyal to me.”

Saber stepped in front of Aslan, drew her invisible sword, and refused.

In the previous fight against Scáthach, she hadn’t had room to intervene, but facing Iskandar, she was no match.

“And your words just now—may I consider that an insult to my master?”

Having made her decision, Artoria would fulfill her oath and become the knight of male King Arthur, Aslan.

Making a king submit to another king’s banner—wasn’t that also an insult to her?

“Sorry, I now have a new goal.”

Scáthach looked at Aslan and licked her lips. She truly wanted to keep fighting him.

What she called her desire for death, her longing for death, was nothing more than emptiness from not finding an opponent in her long life, and not finding direction after reaching the peak.

Now she had found motivation to move forward.

It was to fight Aslan in a true life-or-death battle, then die.

“A true king, no matter what, will not hide their name. This is a king’s dignity. If even this cannot be done, they are not worthy of being a king.”

Iskandar said without regret. If he was a king, he must openly reveal his identity.

“Am I right, famous King Arthur?”

“Of course.”

Aslan smiled and nodded. Although this was just an identity freely given by Queen Halloween, at this moment, he truly was King Arthur.

“I’m sure I’m not the only one interested in that surging Mana. The Heroic Spirits summoned by the Counter Force and the Holy Grail have now gathered here!”

“If you’re too afraid to come out, I, Iskandar, won’t mind calling you cowards!”

As Iskandar’s words ended, an arrogant male voice sounded.

“There are many mongrel kings who don’t know their place, and divine spirits filled with disgusting auras tonight!”

Along with this sentence, a golden figure appeared amidst golden light, illuminating part of the night sky.

Standing atop a lamppost, a golden-haired youth in golden armor stared down at everyone with a cruel gaze.

King of Heroes Gilgamesh had arrived.

The next second, accompanied by a loud crashing sound and breaking bones.

*BOOM!*

Gilgamesh in golden armor flew from the lamppost like a bullet, crashing straight into a stack of containers. The pile instantly collapsed.

Aslan blew hot air from his fist.

“Sorry, I don’t particularly like others looking down at me with condescending eyes.” Aslan said casually.

(No, who are you? You’re not a Three-Digit or King of Gods. Why are you looking down on him?)

If this were Gilgamesh from Little Garden, Aslan might have respected him. After all, he had also made a name for himself in wars like the Anti-Utopia War, just like Arthur—a true King of Heroes.

Divine spirits filled with disgusting auras? That’s Shiroyasha’s hobby, okay? What part is disgusting?

“Mongrel! How dare you attack this king!”

Gilgamesh struggled out of the rubble, wiped golden blood from the corner of his mouth, and glared at Aslan angrily.

Someone dared attack him right after his arrival!

“Are you ready to face my vengeance?”

The enraged Gilgamesh immediately activated his Noble Phantasm to attack, this time with full power.

Within a radius of dozens of meters around Gilgamesh, the entire sky was filled with golden ripples. Hundreds, even thousands of Noble Phantasms emerged from there, fired toward Aslan.

This incredible formation made Aslan slightly surprised. This scene was only used when fighting Berserker.

He was truly honored.

Aslan didn’t speak. He silently closed the Gate of Babylon and added a few more locks.

Then he quietly watched Gilgamesh fire his Noble Phantasms.

“My younger self, I told you we should gather information first.”

Inside Gilgamesh’s mind, a childish voice sounded.

It was Kid Gil’s voice. Kid Gil was now very dissatisfied with his younger self.

After all, to him, the Holy Grail War wasn’t important. Gathering information about the Demon God was what mattered.

At the very least, they should wait until Sha Naqba Imuru could be used again.

Who would have thought he’d make such a huge mistake right after arriving.