BAMN: Chapter 106/107

Chapter 106: Mine Sooner Or Later

At this moment, even Gilgamesh felt immense pressure.

He was strong, that was true.

So many Noble Phantasms, and among them were even divine artifacts of Anti-Army, Anti-Fortress, and even Anti-World class.

However, Gilgamesh had a fatal weakness.

As an Archer, he was not skilled in close combat.

With the strength of the four, they could easily inflict a fatal blow on Gilgamesh before he could react.

"Stand down."

Rin would not forget Gilgamesh's disrespectful words.

But if he attacked with words and you immediately drew your sword, it would seem too petty.

"I forgive your offense this time."

"But..."

Rin raised his eyes, his gaze cold. "There won't be a next time, Gilgamesh."

"Gilgamesh?"

"He said Gilgamesh?"

"The oldest king of ancient Babylon?"

"So that's it!"

"No wonder he possesses so many Noble Phantasms, that's why!"

Gilgamesh merely frowned when Rin revealed his identity, but the onlookers, including Artoria and Iskandar, felt a stir in their hearts.

"Hmph."

Gilgamesh crossed his arms in front of his chest, he did not provoke Rin again.

The opponent's strength was indeed somewhat beyond Gilgamesh's expectations.

Furthermore, if Rin was truly King Solomon, then he really couldn't speak ill of him.

Not because of Rin's strength, or the threat of Shion and the others.

But because the man before him possessed the great achievement of dominating gods and demons.

What did Gilgamesh hate the most?

Without a doubt, it was naturally those high and mighty, self-righteous deities who enjoyed playing with mortals.

Compared to himself, who could only be a pawn, the man before him could toy with demon gods in the palm of his hand, making them bow down and submit.

Just this alone, even if Rin was not a king, was enough for Gilgamesh to take him seriously.

'Divinity...'

Just now, when Shion and the Ice Empress appeared, Gilgamesh had sensed it.

These fellows, without exception, all possessed divinity.

And this also meant that even if they were not gods, they were demigods, angels, spirits, or divine beasts related to gods.

"Alright, alright, the banquet has just begun, there's no need to be so tense!"

"Come, come, those who arrived late must drink a cup first."

Iskandar laughed heartily, beginning to ease the stiff atmosphere.

Upon seeing this, Waver and Irisviel, who had just been immobilized by the oppressive killing intent, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

However, they were still worried that Gilgamesh would refuse.

Artoria had even prepared to protect Irisviel immediately if Gilgamesh suddenly erupted.

However, the turn of events was beyond everyone's expectations.

Gilgamesh simply took the ladle, and looking at the wine glass Iskandar offered, he didn't take it, but instead sniffed the wine in his hand.

This scene made Irisviel recall Artoria's words, calling this banquet a 'challenge.'

The venerable Hero King, facing several other Heroic Spirits who also claimed kingship, inevitably had to accept Iskandar's challenge of discussing heroes over wine.

"What kind of low-grade swill is this?"

"Do you think you can truly measure the capacity of a hero with such inferior wine?"

Gilgamesh showed a disgusted expression, completely disdaining the poor quality red wine.

"Is that so?"

"Among the wines bought from the local market, this is quite a good, high-quality wine, you know."

"You only think that because you don't know what true wine is, you lowly mongrel."

"Since you say so, then you must have something good?"

Rin looked at Gilgamesh and provoked. "If you don't bring it out, I'll assume you're bragging."

"Hmph!"

Gilgamesh disliked Rin's attitude, but unusually, he did not resort to harsh words.

It was the same old saying.

A man who could dominate gods and demons was qualified to stand on the same level as him.

"Buzz~"

Then, the space beside Gilgamesh began to twist and distort.

Waver and Irisviel, seeing this sight, knew it was a prelude to the strange phenomenon that produced countless Noble Phantasms, and immediately felt a chill run down their spines, about to stand up.

However, what emerged from the golden light was not a weapon, but a set of wine vessels adorned with dazzling jewels.

"Look closely, and learn well."

"This is what true king's vintage is!"

The heavy golden wine bottle was filled with a transparent, colorless liquid, and four golden wine cups were tossed to Iskandar, who filled them one by one and handed them to Rin and Artoria.

Rin looked at the ordinary wine glass in his hand and did not refuse.

If there's something good, why not use it?

"Oh, it's so good!!"

Rider, who drank the wine first, praised loudly with wide eyes.

Rin also did not hesitate, he had always wanted to know just how delicious the wine Gilgamesh brought out in the Fourth Holy Grail War truly was.

"Hmm?"

The moment the wine touched his throat, Rin felt an intense wave of happiness strike his heart.

"Delicious."

Rin wasn't very fond of alcohol.

But the taste of this wine was a top-tier flavor Rin had never imagined before.

The taste was both strong and refreshing, both mellow and invigorating.

The overly intense gustatory pleasure directly overwhelmed his sense of smell, even dulling his sight and touch.

"This is truly amazing!"

"This wine absolutely cannot be brewed by human hands, is it something from the Age of Gods?"

Hearing Iskandar's lavish praise, Gilgamesh also smiled leisurely.

"Of course."

"Whether it's fine wine or swords, in my Treasure, there are only the most supreme Noble Phantasms."

"Just this alone is enough to determine the capacity of a king, wouldn't you agree?"

He had also sat down cross-legged on the main seat at some point, contentedly swirling the wine glass in his hand.

"Is that so?"

Rin, while savoring the fine wine in his hand, said in a teasing tone. "Then, what do you think, between a place full of farmland and food but without enough army to guard it, and a neighboring country with a vast army, which one will be the first to bow down and submit?"

"You fellow..."

Gilgamesh's eye twitched slightly.

How could he not understand the meaning behind Rin's words?

Gilgamesh brought out fine wine, using his wealth to prove his qualification as a king.

But Rin's rebuttal was:

Possessing wealth without the military power to protect it.

Such a king is merely a lamb to be slaughtered, only to be plundered by the stronger.

When that time comes, even the weak will pounce on him, biting off pieces and devouring him bit by bit.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 107: Artoria Being Placed on Hold

"If you want my Treasures, be prepared to be blasted into dust!"

Rin coveted Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasms, but he didn't need to directly snatch them.

Anyway, once the Resolution was reached, Rin could obtain anything.

"Alright, alright, let's calm down for now."

Iskandar said with a wry smile, stopping Gilgamesh, who was still about to retort.

"Archer, your top-grade wine is indeed suitable for being held in the most precious wine cups."

"But unfortunately, the Holy Grail is not a wine cup."

"This is a Holy Grail question and answer session to test who is most qualified to obtain the Holy Grail. First, let's hear what great wish you have placed upon the Holy Grail, otherwise, we can't even begin to discuss it."

"So, the oldest Hero King, Gilgamesh."

Iskandar: "Why do you want to obtain the Holy Grail?"

Heroic Spirits, as beings, should not be without desires.

Since they have manifested in this world, they must have a pursuit for the Holy Grail.

"Stop giving orders, mongrel."

Gilgamesh: "Moreover, the premise of 'contending for the Holy Grail' itself already violates common sense."

"To be precise, it was originally my possession."

"Tracing its origin, there is no tangible object in the world that did not come from my treasury."

"Although a long time has passed, some things are always lost, but those treasures still belong to me."

This answer, however, piqued everyone's curiosity.

Even Artoria began to inquire, wanting to know if the Holy Grail truly possessed the power to grant wishes.

"Do not judge by the standards of mongrels."

Gilgamesh: "The total number of Noble Phantasms I possess has long since exceeded what I know, but as long as that item is a 'Treasure,' it can be confirmed to be my property."

"Is that so?"

Iskandar understood. "A Noble Phantasm that symbolizes the prototype of all treasures, this is the true nature of your Noble Phantasms. Truly worthy of being the legendary Hero King."

"Taking back what rightfully belongs to you, this reason is reasonable and justifiable."

Rin no longer targeted Gilgamesh, and his response was somewhat unexpected by Gilgamesh.

"If that's the case, then you actually don't need to be too serious, do you?"

Iskandar: "It's just a cup, after all. For you, it shouldn't be much, right?"

"Nonsense!"

Gilgamesh: "I have no reason to bestow treasures upon mongrels like you."

Iskandar: "Is the legendary Hero King such a stingy fellow?"

"Foolish. The only ones who should receive my grace are my subjects and my people."

"So, Rider, if you submit to me, I can give you one or two cups at any time."

Clearly, such a thing was impossible.

And the reason Gilgamesh gave was actually very simple.

It was, what I give you is yours, if I don't give it to you, you cannot take it.

He didn't care about the outcome of the Holy Grail War, nor did he care about a mere Holy Grail.

What angered Gilgamesh was that someone dared to challenge his authority, the laws he had established.

"In that case, the only thing left is to meet with blades."

Tonight's King's Discourse, Iskandar had already received his answer from Gilgamesh. "My way is that if I want it, I take it by force, because I, Iskandar, am the Conqueror."

"Then there's nothing more to say."

The two could not reconcile.

Because true Kings always believe in their own ideals.

However, this did not mean that Gilgamesh disliked Iskandar.

On the contrary, both felt the reason and spirit of each other's kingship.

At least in terms of being a King, they were not superior or inferior.

And in the subsequent discourse, Iskandar also stated his reason for wanting to obtain the Holy Grail.

He wanted to obtain a physical body.

Then, starting anew, he would continue his journey of world conquest.

"Truly carrying out his beliefs to the very end, Conqueror."

Rin quite liked people like Iskandar, whether alive or dead, he always adhered to his original intentions.

"Ah."

Gilgamesh, uncharacteristically, agreed with Rin's assessment. "A boring life always needs one or two seasonings. I await your challenge, Conqueror!"

"What a joke!!"

Artoria had been frowning, silently watching the gradually forming relationship between the three, a relationship that was neither hostile nor friendly.

From beginning to end, the girl found no opportunity to participate in the discussion.

Because she believed that the opinions expressed by the two Heroic Spirits were too far removed from her ideals as the King of Knights, and had nothing to do with her.

"It's completely selfish!"

"That is not the righteous path that a King should follow."

Artoria's words finally broke the isolated situation.

"Oh?"

Iskandar asked. "Then, let us hear your esteemed opinion, King of Knights."

Rin already knew what would happen next.

Artoria uttered her noble ideal, which she had painstakingly pursued, as if making an oath. "My wish is to save my homeland! I want to use the power of the omnipotent wish-granting machine to change the fate of Britain's destruction!"

"...."

Silence, deafening.

Although Artoria's statement was indeed very strong.

But neither Rin nor the other two were simple opponents who would be intimidated by a single sentence.

Moreover, what she said shouldn't have been so strange as to shock people, nor should the content have been so profound as to be difficult to understand.

In Artoria's view, her wish was noble, sacred, and just.

However...

Whether it was words of praise or waves of opposition, some reaction should have appeared immediately.

But why was the scene so quiet?

"Sigh..."

Before Iskandar could silence Artoria as he did in the original work, Rin spoke first. "Does 'changing fate' mean you want to overturn past history?"

"Yes, even if a miracle cannot achieve this wish, if the Holy Grail is truly omnipotent, it certainly can..."

"Pfft!"

"Puhahaha~"

However, before Artoria could finish her sentence, she was met with Gilgamesh's heartfelt sneer.

"What's so funny, Hero King!"

Artoria felt immense anger.

Saving Great Britain, this was the most important domain deeply buried in her soul, not to be desecrated or trampled upon by anyone.

(To be continued.)