However, he hadn't expected Gilgamesh to be invited too. Shiomi had no doubt this was yet another one of Iskandar's impulsive whims.
"I didn't expect you to choose such a cramped and suffocating place to host a 'Banquet of Kings.' That alone speaks volumes about your worth. I came here specifically—how do you plan to apologize?"
Though Gilgamesh had taken a seat, his crimson eyes stared arrogantly at the King of Conquerors.
Rider simply laughed, brushing off the provocation, and opened the wine barrel, pouring into the goblet Shiomi had provided.
"Don't kill the mood. You chose to come here yourself, and you're late—so naturally, you drink first."
He picked up a wine cup and handed it to Gilgamesh.
Though the King of Heroes looked as unapproachable as ever, ready to explode at the slightest insult, he accepted the goblet without hesitation and downed it in one swift gulp.
This was a challenge—and as a king, refusing the cup was not an option.
Clearly, Gilgamesh recognized this and had every intention of asserting dominance over the banquet.
"...Tch. What is this swill? You expect to measure the worth of a hero with such trash?"
As he spoke, the space beside him twisted. A golden gate emerged—not to summon weapons, but to produce a gleaming, golden wine vessel.
It descended slowly to the ground, and by then, Gilgamesh had already taken out five more goblets.
Evidently understanding the gesture, the King of Conquerors poured a serving for Shiomi as well, acknowledging his combat strength on par with the four Heroic Spirits.
Gilgamesh's wine was both fierce and smooth, rich and exhilarating. Its overpowering taste overwhelmed the nose, dulled the eyes, and even numbed the skin.
Shiomi had to pinch the bridge of his nose, steadying himself with magical energy to avoid immediate intoxication—he rarely drank, and this intensity was far beyond his limit.
"Is there nothing lighter?" Shiomi muttered. "Uruk's barley wine should be relatively mild, shouldn't it?"
Gilgamesh let out a lazy smile.
"My treasury holds only the finest of treasures—whether wine or weapons. As for ale, a product of my lands, if you want it, go fetch it yourself."
Shiomi had clearly underestimated how unreasonable Gilgamesh could be. He gave up arguing and shifted the topic.
"Fine. Since I'm the only one who can apparently meet your standards as a host, I'll do it."
He raised his cup and looked across the rim at the gathered Servants.
"Let me ask you all this—participating in the Holy Grail War means you each have a wish you've entrusted to the Grail. That's why you answered your Master's summons, isn't it?"
As he spoke, Shiomi's gaze landed on Morgan.
This was the perfect opportunity to hear her true intentions—to glimpse who she really was.
The "Witch of Britannia" and similar titles surely didn't tell the whole story.
"You've misunderstood the premise, God-Slayer," Gilgamesh interrupted.
"To assume this is a battle for the Holy Grail is already a violation of logic."
Shiomi was momentarily stunned. Now that his true name had been exposed, he realized Gilgamesh wasn't just spouting nonsense.
"That so? Well, regardless, this Holy Grail clearly isn't the 'great chalice of Uruk.'"
Shiomi narrowed his eyes.
"Which means it doesn't exist in your treasury, King of Heroes."
"This entire planet is my garden. And everything within it belongs to me."
That was all Gilgamesh said.
"Then there's no room for discussion."
Shiomi clicked his tongue.
Iskandar grinned and cut in cheerfully.
"So in other words, King of Heroes, we need your permission to obtain the Grail?"
"I have no reason to grant my treasures to mongrels like you."
Gilgamesh's smile remained, but his crimson gaze sharpened.
"My grace is for my subjects and my people. If any of you are willing to submit to me, I wouldn't mind rewarding you with a cup or two."
It was an impossibility. Every Servant present was a king in their own right—none of them would ever submit to another.
"So what is your purpose in participating in the Holy Grail War, King of Heroes?" Shiomi asked.
"Of course, it is to punish the thieves who seek to steal treasures from my vault."
At that, the King of Heroes locked eyes with Shiomi.
"But you are different, God-Slayer. You're not like the mongrels that infest this era. You're worth observing. If you can pass my trial, I will even grant you the Holy Grail as a reward."
Shiomi frowned slightly.
"You've been calling me 'God-Slayer' this whole time, but I don't recall ever killing a god. I have a name, you know."
"Oh..."
Gilgamesh smiled with amusement but clearly had no intention of changing how he addressed him, nor of offering any explanation.
"Then I shall call you God-Slayer King! Hahahahaha!"
Everyone else present found this strange as well, clearly curious. After all, a mortal who had slain a god and still walked among them in this era... it was no different from a living legend.
Unfortunately, those in the know weren't inclined to share, leaving no way to dig deeper.
Shiomi ignored Gilgamesh's uproarious laughter and turned his gaze, handing the spotlight to the King of Conquerors.
Meeting his gaze, the usually bold Iskandar looked uncharacteristically sheepish.
"To obtain a physical body. That's what I wish for."
The answer was so unexpected that Waver couldn't help but shout out and rush to Rider's side.
"You—you—you! Didn't you say your wish was to conquer the wor—wah!"
Waver was flicked on the forehead by Iskandar and toppled backward onto the grass.
"To obtain a physical body..."
Shiomi was surprised by how unsurprised he was. He understood the intention immediately.
"It's not to realize a wish through the Holy Grail, but to gain the means to fulfill that wish...?"
"You really get it!" Iskandar laughed heartily in praise.
Shiomi only turned away and drank in silence.
He didn't claim to understand Iskandar—but he had learned many things from a certain queen. Even in a land of death, that person had never once abandoned her role as a queen.
Just by watching her, Shiomi had come to fully understand what it meant to be a king.
"And for that, you intend to take my treasure?" Gilgamesh asked.
"Of course! To stand proud with my own body, facing heaven and earth—that is the essence of conquest! To act, to advance, to realize one's purpose—that is my path to domination! But right now, I don't even have a body of my own. How can I take even the first step?!"
As Iskandar spoke, the Servants around the table all wore various degrees of serious expressions.
Gilgamesh, however, looked at Iskandar with a deadly, solemn glare.
"I've decided, Rider. I will execute you myself."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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