BAMN: Chapter 108/109

Chapter 108: The First Step

"Calling oneself a King, and being revered as a King by the people."

"Such a person actually feels regret?"

"Hahahaha! How can one not laugh at such a thing? Amazing, Saber! You truly are the funniest clown!"

"Why are you laughing?"

Artoria could no longer endure Gilgamesh's humiliation. "My country, which I, as King, dedicated my body and mind to protect, was destroyed. Is it funny that I mourn for this?"

"No."

Listening to Artoria's words, Rin shook his head. "Your idea is a bit presumptuous."

"What?"

"Saber..."

Rin did not mock Artoria's ideal like Gilgamesh did.

On the contrary, Rin also hoped that a Leader would be a wise and benevolent ruler.

But such a thing was destined to be impossible.

"I want to ask you a question."

"You want to use the Holy Grail to save your country, and then what?"

"What?"

Artoria was startled, somewhat not understanding what he meant.

"Is it hard to understand?"

"I just want to know, assuming you actually get the Holy Grail and have the opportunity to fulfill your wish, what do you plan to do?"

Rin: "Simply say to the Holy Grail, 'Please save my country'?"

"I..."

Artoria was stumped by Rin's question. She really hadn't thought about how to use the wish to achieve the miracle of salvation.

It was the Holy Grail War she had longed for, yet she hadn't even thought through her wish.

Gilgamesh had no wish.

He participated because every Heroic Spirit vying for the Holy Grail was a challenger coveting his Noble Phantasms.

Killing and punishing everyone was, for Gilgamesh, a matter of course.

Iskandar wanted to continue galloping on the battlefield, for which he needed to obtain a physical body, to enjoy a life of freedom in a new world, a new era.

Artoria had a wish, but did she truly know how to use the Holy Grail to achieve her needs?

"You can take your time to think about this question."

"Now, I'll assume your wish comes true, and the country is truly saved."

"Then what?"

Still "then what," still a bewildered Artoria.

What then?

Then what?

"What I mean is, since the country is back on track, what about you?"

"I..."

Goodness, Rin's questions caught Artoria completely off guard.

To be honest, Artoria hadn't thought that far ahead.

And according to Rin's meaning, if the country was saved, what use would she, as King, be?

'If the country no longer needs me, then where do I go?'

Such a question.

When Artoria was alive, in order to become the King of Knights everyone admired.

She was like a saint, without desires, diligent and conscientious.

So, Artoria had never thought about it.

What would she do if she wasn't King anymore?

To be honest, did she, who had lived her entire life for others, truly have a dream of her own?

"The Holy Grail saved your country, so what about you?"

"Do you continue to be the King of Knights of Great Britain, and then wait for this country to be destroyed in your hands once again?"

"What?! You..."

Artoria was startled.

At the same time, she realized.

The Holy Grail saving her country did not mean everything was over.

History had already proven that she was not suitable to be the King of Knights, at least Artoria herself believed so.

Britain could be destroyed in her hands.

Even if the Holy Grail saved it once, what about next time?

"Waiting for the country to be destroyed again, then you go find the Holy Grail, repeating endlessly..."

"What's the difference between such a country and a puppet of the Holy Grail?"

When Rin said this, he pointed at Iskandar and said, "You mocked Iskandar for vying for the Holy Grail to satisfy his selfish desires."

"But at least he knows that a conquest brought about by a single cup is meaningless!"

"This point is the same for your country."

"If the continuation of a country is not through the joint efforts of its people, but by wishing upon a cup, what is the meaning?"

"..."

Rin's words were calm, but Artoria felt a chill in her heart.

Yes, wasn't the salvation obtained by wishing on the Holy Grail the same as Iskandar's wish for 'world conquest'?

"In that case!"

Artoria steadied herself and retorted, "Then let's change the King!"

Artoria didn't care about being a King.

As long as she could save her people and her country, what did it matter if she wasn't a King or didn't pull out the Sword in the Stone?

"Change the King, huh..."

"That method is feasible."

"But…"

"Saber, don't you think your wish is a bit too cruel?"

"What?"

Artoria didn't understand what Rin meant by that.

Why would he say she was cruel?

"Isn't it cruel?"

"You made a wish for Britain to select a King greater than yourself."

...

"So the question is, why would you impose something you couldn't achieve on someone else?"

"According to you, a King should be noble, righteous, kind, tolerant, benevolent, like a saint, flawless."

Rin looked at Gilgamesh and Iskandar, seeing both of them shaking their heads, then said in a deep voice, "If such a person truly exists, then so be it."

"But if all of this is imposed on him because of your wish…"

"Isn't that cruel?"

"You, Artoria Pendragon, for your own selfish desires, turned another person into a walking corpse known as a Holy King!"

"He could have enjoyed fine wine and food, and had a happy family."

"Yet, because of your wish, his happiness and life were taken away from him!"

"I, I, no, that's not what I meant!"

Artoria was startled by Rin's words. She still understood the principle of 'do not do to others what you would not have them do to you'.

And given Artoria's character, she couldn't possibly do such a thing.

She just, she just felt that she wasn't a qualified King and wanted someone more excellent.

"What if the new King is like Gilgamesh or Iskandar?"

"If the new King you despise and cannot understand is the one who can save Britain, what would you do?"

"This, this kind of thing…"

It was a King she had denied, even called a 'tyrant'.

This caused a violent clash with Artoria's perception of a King.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 109: The Demon King from Another World

"It shouldn't be like this."

"A King, a King should lead by example, should be a role model for everyone..."

"Then Saber, do you really think anyone would want to be that kind of King?"

In Rin's view, what Artoria called the King of Knights was not a King at all, but a slave named King.

In contrast, Iskandar's dominance inspired countless people.

His followers were not walking corpses, but heroes with dreams, everyone wanting to become King.

Perhaps, this would lead to greater chaos.

But for the human race, Iskandar did indeed plant the seed of desire for expansion in their genes.

"The King of Knights does not understand human hearts!"

"!!!"

Rin's last words were like a sharp blade, piercing Artoria's heart, making her almost suffocate from the pain.

Directly wishing to save the country was wrong.

Wishing for a greater King to replace her was her self-righteousness.

Then, what should she do?

Besides contending for the Holy Grail, besides using the omnipotent wish-granting machine, she had no other choice.

"Moreover, you were wrong from the very beginning."

"As a King, the most inappropriate thing is to deny your own life."

"Even if the country is destroyed, that is a shared choice between you and your Knights of the Round Table!"

"But if the price is the country's demise, shouldn't such a mistake be corrected?"

"Mistakes only need to be remembered!"

Rin: "And in this world, where are the flawless, where are the eternal dynasties?"

"What are you clinging to, the demise of Britain, or the demise of Britain at your hands?"

"If it's the former, I want to tell you that even without your country, there will still be the British Isles in this world."

For an eternal country to exist, two indispensable conditions are required.

One is an immortal King.

Two, that King must remain true to his original intention and always be wise.

It was a bit hypocritical after saying all this, but Rin was determined to build a Monster Nation.

He also hoped the Monster Nation would be eternal.

And Rin had hope of achieving all of this, because he truly could be immortal and indestructible.

As for remaining true to his original intention...

If one day Rin grew tired, he wouldn't care about the Monster Nation's demise.

"You cannot be immortal, Saber."

Rin: "Even if your country doesn't fall at your hands, it will eventually decline at the hands of your descendants."

"So the change you speak of is not salvation, but merely prolonging life!"

At this, Saber was completely speechless.

She felt that no matter what she said, Rin could shut her down until she was withdrawn.

Perhaps, just as Rin said.

The King of Knights does not understand human hearts.

"Very sharp, young man."

Iskandar originally had something to say, but he felt that Rin's remarks pointed more directly to Artoria's true nature.

"Then, what about you, young man?"

Iskandar savored his wine, and seeing the atmosphere between the two ease slightly, he spoke, "Won't you introduce yourself, unknown King?"

Upon hearing Iskandar's words, the somewhat withdrawn Artoria instantly looked up.

She admitted that her wish was neither sacred nor noble.

On the contrary, it was shameful and selfish.

But even so, Artoria still wanted to contend for the Holy Grail, even if it was just to extend her country's life for one more second.

She wanted her companions and subjects from her memories to live happy and joyful lives.

'I will not throw my troubles onto others.'

'At least, give me one chance to make amends...'

To go back to the past and start over.

And this time, no matter the outcome, Artoria would accept it.

Even if the country still headed towards destruction, she was willing to accept it.

At least she had tried her best, hadn't she?

'So, that's how it is...'

At this moment, Artoria finally understood the meaning of Rin's recent remarks that went straight to her core.

He wasn't really mocking her wish.

Instead, he was using this method to tell her, if even the direction of progress is wrong, is there still a need to continue?

"It's time to tell you my origins."

Rin noticed the change in Artoria's eyes.

"My name is Itoshi Rin, neither the King Solomon you believe me to be, nor any other King you know!"

As soon as Rin spoke, he dropped a bombshell on everyone. "I come from another world, an alternate world, the Demon King who rules over everything!"

"Dem-Demon King..."

Rin's identity and origin were truly beyond everyone's imagination.

Although the Holy Grail summoning, which allowed Heroic Spirits to descend, was already miraculous enough.

Even Irisviel and Waver had heard that the Holy Grail had the ability to summon Heroic Spirits from the future.

But, another world.

This was simply too bizarre, wasn't it?

"A King from another world?"

Iskandar stroked his chin. "No matter what, as long as he's a King, that's fine."

"Other worlds, interesting!"

Gilgamesh also acknowledged Rin's status as a King.

"I don't need your recognition."

"Unlike you, who have obtained one or two treasuries, or ruled over a region."

"What I possess is a gift box called 'the World'!"

Rin's words were astonishing, and even Gilgamesh and Iskandar, whom he had mocked, couldn't help but show expressions of disbelief.

"This world!"

"This planet you stand on, and even the entire space-time and universe it inhabits!"

"In my eyes, they are treasure chests waiting for me to open."

"Traversing countless worlds, conquering, plundering, dominating, ruling!"

Rin suddenly clenched his fist, displaying his ambition and desire before everyone. "An unchallengeable Creator? A lofty deity? Even the World Will that created the universe."

"Everything that stands in my way, no matter what it is, will ultimately submit to me!"

"You!!!"

Artoria was completely flustered.

After all that talk, aren't you even more excessive than Gilgamesh and Iskandar?

No, this guy is practically a combination of the two!

World conquest is no longer just a metaphor.

If he truly treats the world as his territory and makes it his own.

Moreover, no one knows how many worlds Rin had conquered before descending upon this one.

(To be continued.)