Chương 135: Servant Alliance

Naturally, Artorius never expected that after a few words, everyone would instantly kneel and fawn over him. Unless they were his fervent fanatic or similar beings.

The so-called faith, trust, and loyalty—all human relationships needed self-awareness to be effective.

Whether it was the humans themselves or society, among the Servants present, besides 'Galahad', who would support him unconditionally, the others probably wouldn't.

"Today, let's temporarily forget our identities and the enmity of the Holy Grail War and just drink together." Artorius cheerfully said, "As the host, I extend my welcome and goodwill to everyone."

"Guhahaha, you're quite the host, kid."

The first to burst into laughter after Artorius spoke was Rider. The boisterous Rider, Iskandar, shouted, "Indeed, only a broad mind can win the admiration of heroes under your command. From that standpoint, you're definitely qualified, Dragon Emperor!"

Although he didn't appreciate being addressed so informally and judged for his actions, Artorius didn't object nor reject the compliment. He simply smiled and raised his cup in acknowledgment.

"So, what do you think, King of Conquerors?" Artorius asked calmly.

"If it's just eating and drinking, of course, it's no problem. But I feel your goal goes beyond that."

"Even among the Heroic Spirits, you, as the Dragon Emperor, are truly unique, a being above others." His eyes sparkled. "If it's only about eating and drinking, it would be far too dull, wouldn't it?"

"Arrogantly considering yourself the master of this place. You make grand gestures, but deep down, you've already placed yourself above others." Meanwhile, Gilgamesh's voice carried a hint of sarcasm. "You really are quite a bastard."

Artorius's eyes gleamed with pleasure. Gilgamesh's appraisal brought a smile to his face.

"Is that your honest opinion, King of Heroes?"

"Of course, it's my honest opinion..." Gilgamesh replied nonchalantly. But what he said next made Tokiomi wish he could die right there and then, "Also, the way you call me the 'King of Heroes' makes me sick! If you dare to use that title again, I will spare no effort to cut you down."

'Ended, not only am I doomed, but the Tohsaka family is also finished!'

Hearing his own Servant said that, Tokiomi's expression turned as if his most trusted disciple had betrayed him over and over, and he had reached the point of utter despair.

'Perhaps it's time to use Command Spell...' he thought. 'Just use a Command Spell and order—"Commit suicide, Archer." That way, at least my family will be spared.'

'No, even if we survive, the Tohsaka family will surely be ruined. I wonder if Edelfelt will be willing to adopt Sakura and Rin. And will Aoi marry again after my death? Shit!'

At the same time, Artorius paid no attention to the almost collapsing Tokiomi and continued to gaze with interest at Gilgamesh. Not the gentle and polite boyish Gilgamesh. Not the wise and mature King Gilgamesh who had come to understand sorrow. But the chuuni and arrogant Gilgamesh who even other versions of himself despised.

He was just as troublesome as imagined.

The reason why Gilgamesh said something like that, Artorius knew well.

For others, 'King of Heroes' was a title of respect. But when it came from the Dragon Emperor's mouth, it was a condescending term, almost like an address to a subject.

Although, during Gilgamesh's era, the title of 'Emperor' didn't exist.

Regardless of Caesar, Augustus, Basileus, Shah, or Caliph… no title surpassing 'King' had appeared. 'King' was the highest rank of rulers.

But as human society evolved, the size of nations grew, and the rulers' ambitions and arrogance increased. The title of 'Emperor' began to spread. And 'King' naturally became devalued.

'Emperor' was more prestigious than 'King.' It was a universally acknowledged truth among all people.

So, it was a matter of course, and it was self-evident that the 'Dragon Emperor' was nobler than the 'King of Heroes,' something Gilgamesh, as the King, could never accept.

"Guhahahaha!"

At this, the other 'King', Iskandar, laughed heartily. He didn't mind being lower to the Emperor rank. Although his formal title was 'King of Macedonia,' probably only fools would see him that way.

Both historians and ordinary people regarded his country as an 'Empire', the 'Empire of Alexander', and him as the 'Emperor' and 'Alexander the Great.'

Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Indians—judging purely by the territory he ruled, Iskandar was the ruler of the largest empire in the world at that time.

"King of Conquerors, do you also want to be my enemy?"

As Gilgamesh looked at Iskandar with a gaze filled with hostility and disgust, Artorius chuckled lightly. Then, as he met Gilgamesh's gaze, he gently waved his finger.

Everyone present, including Artorius's Master waiting hundreds of kilometers away in Fuyuki City, who had no idea about the current situation, felt a change in Artorius's body—or rather, in his 'Saint Graph'. Artorius's Saint Graph was transforming.

From the unparalleled Dragon Emperor, the ruler of the world, and the master of humanity, he changed into the 'King of Britain.'

He used the 'Dragon Emperor Privilege' to alter his own Saint Graph (Spirit Origin).

"..."

"Now, can we have a proper talk?" Artorius smiled warmly, "King of Heroes?"

"Hmph."

After a light snort, Gilgamesh's face lit up with a pleased smile, "The heart of a king is as vast as the sea, trivial matters naturally won't bother me."

"Oh?" As he listened, Iskandar widened his eyes and looked at Gilgamesh as though he were some rare creature.

Just a moment ago, he acted like he would fight Artorius to the death just because of a title. Yet now he was talking about the broad heart of a king. From Iskandar's perspective, it looked like a thick-skinned-faced king who wouldn't acknowledge mistakes.

What was even more surprising was how shamelessly he said it—so natural and matter-of-fact, as if he genuinely believed it himself.

Of course, that being said, since the King of Heroes across from him has spoken, Iskandar, who considered himself not inferior to the other king, also spoke.

"Then let's talk, Assassin." Iskandar gazed at Artorius, "I'd rather talk with you than just eat and drink. As kings, as heroes from different eras, isn't it wonderful to fight or exchange ideas with each other?"

"Talk?" Artorius chuckled, "In fact, I'd like everyone to rest for a while first, and visit famous landmarks and shopping districts. Let's take some time to relax before we get down to business."

"Really?" Hearing Artorius say that, 'Galahad' couldn't help but speak up, earning a strange look from Artorius.

'Hmm? Why do you seem a bit eager for it? As a Knight of the Round Table, shouldn't you be as much of a workaholic as Agravain? Did Galahad's spirit within not react to my presence?'

"..."

Artorius's gaze reminded 'Galahad' of her workplace. The work they all endured there to preserve human order. She shivered involuntarily, then blushed and lowered her head.

At the same time, the mischievous 'Oni' with a sinister air laughed joyfully. Though she didn't say anything, she must have been delighted by Artorius's bribe.

"Although I'm not a useless person who only eats and drinks." Iskandar wasn't very pleased with Artorius's remark, "Of course, enjoyment is worth pursuing, but I prefer the feeling of being on the battlefield more, King Artorius."

Since Artorius willingly changed his own Saint Graph to the level of 'King of Britain', Iskandar naturally changed the way he addressed him.

Artorius's voluntary act of changing his own Saint Graph not only heightened Gilgamesh's favorability towards him, but it probably increased Iskandar's favorability even more than Gilgamesh's.

"Then, let's get down to business, Assassin." Iskandar's excitement rose, "And you too, Archer. Gathered here are the greatest rulers throughout history. Just this fact alone deserves a toast, don't you think?"

"Indeed..." Artorius said calmly.

"Hmph."

Gilgamesh on the other side opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to say something, most likely about how he's the sole true king in the world, while everyone else is just self-proclaimed clowns and mediocre mongrels. But before he could speak, he thought about Artorius's existence. So he just let out a snort.

The three kings raised their cups, toasting each other as a gesture of mutual respect, and after the wine went down, Artorius spoke first.

"Everyone here who accepted my invitation must be curious about my intentions..." He said lightly, "But there's no need to rush; I will confess all my thoughts and everything openly without withholding anything. Firstly, I want to tell you all that I'm not interested in the Holy Grail. My attitude towards this so-called Holy Grail War was nothing more than a vacation from the very beginning."

"..."

Hearing Artorius say this, the surrounding Servants were either indifferent, lightly chuckling, or had long expected him to say that, so they remained unfazed. Only 'Galahad' uttered a surprised "Ehh?!" and looked at him with wide eyes, which made him frown slightly.

'She really lacks depth in wits and wisdom.'

From being the most excited and happiest to now, Artorius's favorability towards 'Galahad' had dropped twice already, who knows how it will end up.

===

The so-called Holy Grail War, theoretically, is a response to the summoning of Heroic Spirits by Masters. They should be those who, in their lifetime, had regrets or unfinished business, which is why they are summoned.

However, now, Artorius claimed that he was not interested in the Holy Grail and was just here for a vacation. Admittedly, the credibility of his statement wasn't high. But when considering his identity...

"After all, Old Man, you already have everything."

On the other side, Shuten, the slightly tipsy Oni, chimed in and offered an explanation for Artorius.

"With such a vast empire and countless subjects, whether it's the army, officials, or boot lickers, as long as you give the order, you can get anything you want, even without the Holy Grail, right?"

"You're not entirely wrong."

Shuten's response surprised Artorius a bit, not because she spoke logically, but because she was willing to speak and address him so informally.

Sure, he chose the mature, majestic king form to maintain his dignity and face among his to-be-allies.

'But being called 'Old Man'? Isn't that more appropriate for addressing an elder...?'

Of course, Artorius kept these surprised thoughts to himself and refrained from expressing them.

"That's really nice..."

Hearing Shuten's words, Iskandar gazed at Artorius with admiration.

Gilgamesh clicked his tongue and said, "He's just the king of mongrels on a mongrels heap. Humans are all mongrels, and even if you gather all the mongrels together, you'll only get a nation of mongrels."

"You don't have to be so harsh, Archer." Iskandar interjected, "I think Assassin did a good job. He managed to unify the whole world. I couldn't do that even when I conquered India."

If there were any other sarcastic individuals present, they would likely continue mocking the King of Conquerors. It wasn't just a matter of not being able to conquer India.

In the end, there was internal strife, his empire was divided into four or five parts, and even the Argead Dynasty fell. They couldn't even hold onto the original territories of the Macedonian Kingdom. From a familial perspective, it was truly one of the worst outcomes.

Fortunately, the people here are magnanimous. No one here is revealing Iskandar's secrets.

On the other hand, 'Galahad', with her prominently protruding chest, widened her eyes once again, looking at Artorius with an incredulous gaze. "S-Surprisingly, Mister Assassin is a great man...?!"

This caused Artorius to lose some of his favorable impression of her.

Although he had already realized that this girl wasn't truly his Galahad but another version from a parallel world that got fused with Galahad's spirit, she was still Galahad in his eyes. She should at least maintain some dignity and decorum.

'It seems that I need to educate this girl properly in the future. Can't let the name of Galahad be disgraced.'

Artorius made a resolve within himself. Then he continued, "It appears that everyone believes my words. So let me tell you about my conditions—an alliance. If you ally with me and assist me, you'll gain my support in the upcoming Holy Grail War, greatly increasing your chances of obtaining the Grail."

"So, it was your plan..." Iskandar nodded in approval, "Quite an unexpected good condition. With this, you can at least garner some allies in the early stages of the Holy Grail War. Even I'm tempted."

Unlike Iskandar, Gilgamesh responded differently.

"You're using my treasures to buy alliances? Are you trying to provoke me, you bastard?"

"The Grail is not yours—forget I said anything." Iskandar wanted to retort but changed his mind.

In contrast to the original story, this Iskandar wasn't aware of Gilgamesh's true identity. He only knew that the King of Heroes possessed the concept of 'gathering all the world's treasures into his treasury.'

Considering the concept of 'gathering all the world's treasures into his treasury', what he said isn't entirely wrong.

"This Grail is not yours, King of Heroes..." Artorius reminded him.

"Regardless of its craftsmanship, the conditions of its appearance, time, location, or manner, it doesn't matter. All the world's past and present treasures belong to this king."

"In that case, let me rephrase." Artorius calmly addressed him.

If it were someone else, Gilgamesh would have thrown his countless Noble Phantasms in anger. However, Artorius remained composed and calmly stated, "I am willing to assist you in reclaiming the treasure that originally belonged to you. What do you think of that?"

"You..." Gilgamesh fell silent for a few seconds, then muttered, "You're truly an extraordinary bastard..."

In a way, Gilgamesh saying these words was already a rare 'compliment.'

"Indeed, only someone as ruthless as you could stand out amidst a heap of mongrels and become the king of mongrels."

"Say what you will." Artorius leaned back in his chair, adopting the most relaxed posture, "This is the best bargaining chip I can offer. Whether you want it or not is up to you."

"Before that..."

Before Iskandar and Gilgamesh could speak up, Shuten, who was beside them, interjected once again.

"Can't you give us a little more explanation? You're condescendingly making polite offers, seeking to ally with us. What is the reason? It must be something even more important than the Holy Grail, right?"

"Right!"

As always, Iskandar pretended to be clueless and dumb, and the outwardly rugged and bold Iskandar clapped his hands as though he'd just grasped what Artorius said.

"What is it exactly, King Artorius? You should at least tell us first, so we can make our choices, right?"

"My request will never go against your beliefs..." Artorius said without hesitation. "Of course, I can be upfront about it—it's the vampires. The war between humans and vampires has reached a critical point. With a little more effort, we can make significant progress in the war against them. Those fellows have set their sights on the Holy Grail War. I'm not entirely sure about their specific goal, but whatever it is, we can't let them succeed."

"Vampires... the Dead Apostles, huh?" Iskandar nodded. "Dealing with those evildoers is indeed the task of a king. If that's the condition for forming an alliance, I have no objections."

"Mages can be ignored, we can just leave them be. But if it's those abominable creatures like Dead Apostles, then this king must exterminate them." Gilgamesh calmly stated, "Of course, I have no intention of forming an alliance with anyone. Don't get me wrong, you mongrel."

"W-Well, if it's a war to protect the world, I'm willing to help too..."

After the two strongest Servants generously and haughtily expressed their willingness to form an alliance with Artorius, 'Galahad', the shy and hesitant one, also raised her hand, stating that she wanted to help, but Artorius felt her strength was insufficient.

"I will train you well in this matter, 'Galahad'..." Artorius said without hesitation. "Don't worry, I will make sure you live up to the name of 'Galahad'."

"..."

"O-Okay..."

Artorius's words troubled the girl, her bangs covering one of her eyes, and though she had an awkward figure, she didn't realize it. Eventually, she nodded, indicating her understanding.

"Hmm~"

Finally, it was Shuten's turn to speak. She said something similar to what she said earlier, which confused and puzzled Artorius to some extent.

"I don't care who the enemies are. Vampires, humans, demons, or whatever—it's none of my concern... but since it's Old Man's business, I'm willing to help. After all, I've always admired you, Old Man~"

As she spoke, Sguten with a tinge of flirtatiousness stuck out her pink tongue, licking her lips, as if she would be delighted to be taken away for private moments the next second. This made Gilgamesh frown.

"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving." Gilgamesh said decisively, "I can't stand this foul place for even a second. Hmph!"

The next moment, he became ethereal, disappearing in a golden flash of light, leaving a message behind—"Don't bother me if there's nothing to do."

"Just leaving like that? There are still so many delicious things here..."

Iskandar mumbled, but soon resumed his heroic demeanor and happily indulged in wine and food. It seemed that the atmosphere of the banquet became even better without Gilgamesh's foul-mouthed presence. After two or three cups of wine, the atmosphere became lively.

Tokiomi, who had been anxiously worried about his family's fate and felt uneasy, was reassured by Artorius, who said—"Don't worry, Lord Tohsaka. It's not your fault." This brought some relief to him.

'Galahad', who had been reserved earlier, also smiled and began to enjoy the feast. The only surprising thing was that her pet, Fou, had left her embrace and went over to Artorius. It was not a surprise, and he seemed quite skilled at patting Fou as if he was familiar with the pet.

Everything seemed to go smoothly.

Artorius was expecting a grand alliance of Servants to come to fruition. Even the arrogant Gilgamesh showed some cooperative attitude. Everything seemed to be progressing in a positive direction.

However...

'Is it really this easy?'

Looking at 'Galahad', who became dizzy and lost in thought after drinking, Artorius couldn't help but wonder.

'Among all the Servants, perhaps only this girl has no ulterior motives.'

Artorius's gaze swept across the room, one by one, the others.

Iskandar, Galahad, Shuten-douji, and finally settled on Scathach, his teacher, sitting quietly beside him throughout the negotiation process, staying silent and maintaining a smile. She seemed to have no personal thoughts, acting as a faithful follower of the Dragon Emperor.

'But... is it really that simple?' Artorius wondered.

At the same time, Scathach, who was being observed by Artorius, smiled gracefully. He responded with an equally bright smile, temporarily abandoning his thoughts.

Watching this scene, all the attentive people present seemed to be deep in thought.

The Persian dancer, veiled in a seductive dance, made everyone at the banquet smile happily.

The valuable wine was consumed at an even faster rate as the banquet continued peacefully.