Shirou forced the magi who had received the invitations to reluctantly surrender them to Waver, leaving them with no choice but to comply.
Unfortunately, Heine Istari's invitation had gone missing following his untimely demise. With the exception of his invitation, all the others were successfully collected.
After laying Heine Istari and the other deceased magi to rest in the backyard, Shirou dismissed everyone and led Waver to his room.
Adashino Hishiri, who had cunningly faked her death, lay on the spacious bed in Shirou's room.
Her abdominal wound was gradually healing, indicating that she would likely regain consciousness the next day.
In a nonchalant manner, Shirou casually tossed her onto the floor before settling himself on the bed.
As he lay there, the warmth from Adashino's body enveloped the bed, creating a cozy and perfect atmosphere for sleep.
Waver observed Shirou, who was already lying down, snugly wrapped in the blanket, evidently ready to drift off. Wearing a perplexed expression, he couldn't help but asked, "Eternal... Eternal King, what exactly are you planning to do?"
"It's already late at night, so naturally, I intend to get some rest."
Waver gestured towards the stack of invitation letters on the table and asked, "Aren't you going to read them?"
"I entrusted them to you. I don't care about the process; just let me know the results tomorrow. By the way, remember to turn off the lights on your way out," Shirou stated, before pulling the blanket over himself. "Goodnight," he murmured, drifting off to sleep.
Waver: "..."
Wasn't the Eternal King known for being diligent, tirelessly handling political affairs day and night?
What kind of Eternal King is this?
Under the light, Waver was left alone with a pained expression on his face, as he looked at the invitation letters, searching for clues.
Shirou entered his dream and accessed the Eternal King's account, then used his "Clairvoyance (EX)" to contact Merlin.
Merlin replied, "I can only see the castle where you are, but I'm unable to see what's happening inside."
"I figured as much..." Shirou sighed, rubbing his chin with a furrowed brow. "Can't meddle from within, can't meddle from without."
"My king, have you gotten yourself involved in another troublesome situation?"
"Yeah, it was already a hassle when Zelretch first mentioned the signs of the Age of Gods making a comeback. But now it seems to be tied to the Holy Grail, and these two things seem to be connected in some way."
"Connected?"
"Exactly. Within this castle, which has transformed into a separate space, we're witnessing emissions of particles from the Age of Gods, along with the presence of Class Cards. It appears to be connected to parallel worlds too."
"Are you talking about that parallel world involving Ainsworth?"
"Yes."
"Everything has become a mess. It's truly troublesome."
"Who says it isn't?"
'I sincerely hope that you can live the life you truly desire, my king.'
Merlin understood the kind of life his king longed for.
His king stood apart from other rulers. While most kings ascended to the throne driven by their own ambitions or the demands of the era, and were captivated by the power and allure it held, his king was different. Despite inheriting the crown out of necessity, he never developed an obsession with the throne, nor did he yearn for the thrilling and passionate days of being a king.
All the king really wanted was a simple, carefree life. But no matter what he tried, it seemed out of reach.
Being the tallest figure in this world and era, the king couldn't escape the inevitable. If the sky were to fall, it would eventually land on his shoulder.
There was no hiding for the king, nor did he want to hide. Instead, he willingly took charge and carried the weight of the entire world on his shoulders.
He embodied the true essence of a King, bravely shouldering the burdens that came with the throne.
But deep down, all he yearned for were the peaceful days in Fuyuki City.
Merlin shared that heartfelt desire for the king.
Yet, the king found himself constantly entangled in troublesome affairs.
Merlin couldn't help but let out a sigh inwardly.
"We'll discuss it later," Shirou said.
Using his skill, Clairvoyance (EX), he reached out to Gilgamesh, requesting his assistance in peering into the future and gaining insight into the impending situation.
Gilgamesh's response carried a hint of annoyance. "Eternal King, you have quite the audacity! Why should I assist you over and over again?"
"Enough with your nonsense. Just help me see. When you face difficulties, I'll be there to lend a hand, you bastard!"
"As the king, I am more than capable of handling everything. I have no need for your help," Gilgamesh sneered with disdain on his face but still took a glance at the future and said, "Even I cannot see your current whereabouts, you wretched mongrel."
"You mean to say your abilities are incapable of perceiving anything?" Shirou mused, rubbing his chin. "So, in essence, I am truly barred from any form of intervention? If that's the case, it certainly lives up to the reputation of the Holy Grail."
Just then, Solomon interjected, breaking the silence. "One could argue that it is the Holy Grail, yet one could also argue that it is not."
"Hmm?" Shirou was taken aback by Solomon's unexpected comment. He couldn't resist asking, "What do you mean, Solomon?"
However, Solomon remained silent, offering no response.
"Tsk." Shirou clicked his tongue in annoyance. Although it was in line with Solomon's current character to speak halfway, it was still quite irritating.
As Shirou made up his mind to leave the Clairvoyance Chat Group, Solomon's voice unexpectedly broke the silence. "I want to meet you, Eternal King."
Shirou replied, "Tell me what you saw, and I will consider meeting you."
Solomon: "..."
He hesitated for a moment before saying, "I can't seem to locate your current position either. But more importantly, I don't sense the divine presence."
Shirou furrowed his brow and asked, "So you're suggesting that it's not the interference caused by the Holy Grail?"
"I'm not sure," Solomon replied, his expression thoughtful. "While it can indeed block clairvoyance, I don't detect any signs of divine presence. It's possible that this is another function of the Holy Grail, but I can't say for sure. I've never laid eyes on the Holy Grail nor possessed it, so my knowledge is limited. What I can tell you, though, is that wherever you are, there is no trace of divine presence."
"I see..." Shirou stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Solomon said, "I want to meet you, Eternal King."
"I share the same sentiment, but unfortunately, you can't come here."
Shirou waved his hand in a casual gesture before bidding farewell to the Clairvoyance Chat Group.