BAMN: Chapter 104/105

Chapter 104: The Banquet

"I'll go out and see, try not to leave my side."

Irisviel nodded in response, then accompanied Saber, who was going to meet the enemy.

She knew very well that the safest place on the battlefield was by Artoria's side.

"That thunder just now, and that unrestrained power, the enemy should be Iskandar."

The two hurried through the abandoned castle, arrived at the balcony surrounding the high-ceilinged hall, and then waited for the other party's arrival.

"I thought so too."

Irisviel recalled the power of the Noble Phantasm Gordius Wheel she had witnessed in the warehouse district the day before yesterday.

That divine bull chariot surrounded by lightning.

If such an anti-army Noble Phantasm were fully unleashed, it would not be surprising if the Magecraft array base points set up in the forest were uprooted.

"Hey, King of Knights!"

"I specifically came to find you, why aren't you coming out quickly?"

As the two had expected, the voice calling out brazenly in the hall was indeed Iskandar.

Artoria, while running, transformed her suit into silver-white armor, ready to meet the challenge at any moment.

"Yo, Saber."

"I heard you built a castle, so I came to see."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Iskandar stroked his chin, sighing, "It's a bit disappointing. This castle is somehow shabby."

"Well!"

"But as long as it's a castle, it's fine."

"You don't mind if I borrow this place for a banquet, do you?"

Iskandar's shameless words truly made the two women's expressions difficult to maintain.

"Rider, you..."

Artoria understood the meaning of his words.

He wasn't here to cause trouble.

"Making such a big commotion just to say these things?"

Artoria glared fiercely at Iskandar. "And don't just unilaterally occupy other people's things!"

"Well, well~"

Iskandar scratched the back of his head, then revealed his white teeth. "Since I helped you cut down some trees in front of the castle gate, lend me the place, alright?"

"Don't you think the view has become much wider without those trees in the yard?"

If Artoria wasn't a moral person, and Irisviel wasn't from a noble family, upon hearing Iskandar's shameless boast, they would probably have cursed directly.

"What exactly do you want to do?!"

Artoria: "If you can't give me a reasonable explanation, don't blame me for being merciless with my sword!"

"Idiot, idiot, idiot."

Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, Waver quickly poked his head out from behind Iskandar. "Really, I told you to ask first!"

"Haha, how would that be quick enough?"

Iskandar ignored Waver's nonsense, he lifted the wine barrel beside him. "Relax, relax, I'm not here to fight you this time."

"Then what is it?"

"Can't you tell?"

Iskandar patted the wine barrel and laughed. "Of course, it's the wine for tonight!"

"Alright, don't just stand there, lead the way."

"Don't you have any suitable gardens for a banquet here?"

"This broken castle is full of dust everywhere, it's unbearable."

Every word from Iskandar was like a sharp blade, piercing deeply into Irisviel's heart.

Even she, with her gentle temperament, felt the urge to perish with him at this moment.

This guy was simply too much of a bully!

"Is it a trap?"

"He's not the type to play petty tricks, is he?"

"Is he really just here to drink?"

Walking towards the courtyard, Irisviel quietly asked Artoria.

Upon reflection, Iskandar had publicly stated earlier that he would not fight Saber until Saber and Lancer had determined a victor.

If that was a promise made by a Heroic Spirit based on their dignity, then his sudden attack tonight would be inexplicable.

"That man, isn't he deliberately trying to gain your favor, then launch a surprise attack?"

"No, Irisviel, you don't understand."

Artoria had already understood Iskandar's meaning.

She put away her fighting spirit, but her expression was even more serious than before.

"This is a challenge initiated by a king."

"I am a king, and he is also a king of a nation."

Artoria: "If he knows both our identities and still wants to drink with me, then this is a battle without weapons."

"Haha!"

Seeing that Saber finally understood, Iskandar laughed. "Exactly!"

"If you don't want to wield swords, then let's raise our cups and drink together, King of Knights!"

"Tonight, I'm going to properly question your kingly demeanor. Are you mentally prepared?"

"Interesting, I accept."

Artoria resolutely accepted the challenge, her face radiating the same stern heroism as when she went to battle.

"This..."

As things developed, Irisviel finally understood that this was not a joke, but the beginning of a real contest.

The chosen venue for the banquet was the garden in the castle's central courtyard.

The battle that night had not affected this place, so it was still a suitable spot to entertain guests without losing face.

"So, shall we begin now?"

Sitting cross-legged opposite Conqueror in the center of the garden, Artoria asked.

"Wait, there's still a guest who hasn't arrived."

"A guest?"

"Ah, you and I are not the only Kings who have descended in this Holy Grail War."

"Could it be?!"

Hearing the word 'King,' a name immediately popped into Artoria's mind. "Solomon..."

The girl immediately thought of Rin, whom Emiya Kiritsugu had mentioned.

Of course, a certain incredibly arrogant street lamp King was automatically ignored by Artoria.

That guy was simply too arrogant.

Artoria did not want to invite such a fellow to her home as a guest.

"I shouldn't be late, right?"

Just as Artoria was surprised, Rin's figure appeared in the courtyard at some point.

"This is our first meeting, isn't it, Artoria?"

Rin sat with his back to the east, taking the opportunity to closely observe Artoria's heroic posture.

And after his appearance, the gazes of Irisviel and Artoria fell upon Rin, as if they wanted to see through him.

'This is the legendary King Solomon?'

Even Irisviel, as an artificial human, had to admit that Rin's appearance was simply too astonishing.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 105: Ultimate Oppression

Artoria was surprised by Rin's arrival, but she felt a bit irritated by his gaze.

"Another Heroic Spirit like the King of Conquerors?"

"Hey, since when did my name become a derogatory term?"

"I agree with that."

Rin gave Iskandar no face at all. "He's nothing like the Conqueror I imagined."

"Exactly!"

Artoria nodded in strong agreement.

"That's truly too much."

Iskandar looked at Rin with a resentful expression. "I thought you and I had good compatibility, young man."

"Sorry, I don't like men."

After Rin finished speaking, his gaze turned toward a certain direction.

"Hahaha, young man, you truly are an interesting fellow."

After Iskandar finished speaking, he used his knuckled fist to knock open the lid of the wine barrel.

In an instant, the fragrant aroma of rich red wine permeated the air in the courtyard at night.

To be Iskandar's Master, this guy is quite pitiful.

Rin glanced at Waver on the side, shaking his head silently. That huge barrel of high-quality red wine must have cost a lot, right?

He didn't think Waver was the kind of person who would use Magecraft to extort or seize things.

"Although the shape is a bit strange, this is a traditional drinking vessel in this country, you know."

Iskandar proudly picked up a bamboo-handled ladle.

Iskandar first used the ladle to scoop up the red wine from the barrel, preparing to drink it all in one gulp.

"Use this."

Rin took out a few cups and handed them to him.

"Oh, thanks."

Iskandar was not pretentious. He simply scooped a large cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Legend has it that the Holy Grail will be given to the suitable candidate..."

Iskandar said steadily, first broaching the topic.

Although he was rarely seen speaking in such a serious tone, for some reason, it didn't feel out of place at all.

"Although this competition unfolding in Fuyuki is the ritual to determine the suitable candidate."

"But if it's just to determine the candidate, it doesn't necessarily have to involve bloodshed."

"If the Heroic Spirits can accept each other's capacity, the answer will naturally appear."

Artoria also took the wine glass Rin handed her, then directly scooped a ladle of wine from the barrel.

Although her petite stature made one wonder if she could actually drink, the girl's manner of drinking was no less bold and hearty than Iskandar's.

Iskandar smiled happily at the sight.

Then, both of them looked at Rin, awaiting his response.

"You've both drunk. If I don't, will I seem unsociable?"

Rin wasn't particularly interested in red wine, but with the atmosphere like this, what else could he say? Of course, he would join them in a single gulp.

"You mean to say that you first want to compare capacity with us, Iskandar?"

Artoria had been observing Rin.

Every movement of his showed no hint of Gilgamesh's arrogance. Instead, he gave off a feeling like a spring breeze, fully embodying a King's capacity and lack of pretension.

"Exactly, because we all claim to be Kings, of course we must discuss capacity."

Iskandar's gaze lingered on Rin and Artoria. "Speaking of which, this isn't a Holy Grail War, but a Holy Grail Questioning."

"King of Knights, and the King of Mages, you don't mind me calling you that, do you?"

Hearing Iskandar's address for Rin, everyone present couldn't help but feel their hearts pound.

Indeed.

The other party was the legendary King Solomon.

"No matter."

Rin did not explain.

Because Gilgamesh hadn't arrived yet, Rin planned to wait until he did.

Otherwise, introducing himself once or twice would be too undignified.

"Whose capacity is more suitable to become the King of the Holy Grail?"

"Just by tasting what's in the cup, it will naturally become clear."

After Iskandar finished speaking seriously, the corner of his mouth suddenly twisted into a sly smile, and he spoke in a teasing tone toward a certain spot. "Oh, by the way, I remember there's another fellow who also insists he's a King."

"Jokes aside, mongrel."

As if responding to Iskandar's remark, a dazzling golden light burst forth before everyone's eyes.

Artoria and Irisviel had a deep impression of this voice and this light, and both were taken aback.

"Archer, why are you here?"

Saber asked with a tense expression, and Iskandar, whose expression was pale, answered her.

"No, I saw this guy on the street, so I tentatively invited him too."

"Why are you so slow, Gilgamesh?"

"But unlike me, you walked here, so I can't really blame you."

Archer, clad in shining armor, finally appeared, his ruby-red eyes arrogantly staring directly at Iskandar.

"I didn't expect you to choose such a cramped and suffocating place to host a King's banquet. This alone shows how little you amount to."

"How do you intend to atone for making this King specially come here?"

Gilgamesh said this, but from the moment he appeared, his gaze had not left Rin.

"And you, where did you pop out from?"

"To be invited by this guy, it seems you're another mongrel who claims to be a King without knowing his place."

With a single sentence, the atmosphere instantly froze.

This was not an exaggeration, but a true, palpable, deathly silence that made everyone with distinction.

Shion, Souei, and Hoshiga appeared around the garden, led by the Ice Empress.

They did not speak, but quietly awaited Rin's command.

At their Master's slightest glance, the four would launch an attack on Gilgamesh, making him pay a bloody price for his arrogant words.

"!!!"

And this scene also fell into the eyes of the crowd.

The aura emanating from the four was, without exception, terrifyingly strong.

Shion, for now, need not be mentioned.

They had already witnessed her power.

She was a powerful Servant who remained completely unharmed even under the bombardment of hundreds of Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasms.

The other three, their auras were in no way inferior to Shion's.

Among them, the Ice Empress, in particular, was enveloped in terrifying magical energy, as if she would freeze the entire castle.

(To be continued.)