To become a king and a magician

"No need to thank me. After all, it would be very difficult for me if you died. So if possible, I don't want to see you lying on the ground like a corpse again, waiting for me to save you."

"It's not like I wanted to become like that. What could I do if I was attacked?" Natsukawa Tora gave a wry smile. "By the way, you just said there was another person... Where is he?"

"I woke up yesterday, and left a long time ago. I don't know where I went."

Has Matou Kariya left? That's for the best. After all, his Servant is Lancelot. If he had stayed with Arthur, who knows what might have happened.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing. While you were unconscious, I successfully found the Rider you mentioned, and I also contacted Lancer. They've both gone to Mount Enzo now."

"Huh?"

Xia Chuanhu was stunned.

"They went to Mount Enzo? —Ayaka Sajou?"

Reiko Misaya nodded: "Of course, but judging from their expressions, they don't seem to believe me. Even with Saber's confirmation, I think their purpose is probably to scout the area first. But..."

“They will die,” Natsukawa Torama said with a grim face. “Even if it was just reconnaissance, they have still entered Sajou Ayaka’s territory. Given her personality, the methods she would probably take are… to eliminate them all.”

This is beyond doubt. For Ayaka Sajou, the world only needs her and Arthur to exist. Everything else is unnecessary and should be eliminated.

Gritting his teeth, Xia Chuanhu propped himself up and got out of bed, limping as he grabbed his clothes, put them on, and headed for the door.

Seeing Natsukawa Torama stand up to leave, Reirōkan Misaya suddenly asked, "Are you planning to go over there?"

"Ah."

"You're still recovering from serious injuries. If you drag your half-dead body into this... you'll die."

"Perhaps...."

Natsukawa Torama took a deep breath: "But... I have to go eventually. After all, I am that guy's Master. Once I get involved with him, Sajou Ayaka will be someone I have to face sooner or later. Besides, since Rider and Lancer have already gone there, going now is like a three-on-one fight—the best time to win."

"So, what is your so-called greatest chance of winning?"

“I don’t know, I just think so.” Natsukawa Tora sighed. “You said that Sajō Aika is constantly absorbing spiritual veins to restore her power, which means that Sajō Aika is getting stronger all the time… Morgan and Emiya Kiritsugu have delayed me for two days, and now I don’t have time to dawdle any longer.”

"That makes sense... but can your body handle it?"

"This... I should be able to bear it if I grit my teeth. Compared to Ayaka Sajou's curse, this pain is actually quite easy."

"Ha, you really are... unbearable."

As if she had made a big decision, Misaya Reiryukan grabbed Natsukawa Tora by the back of his collar, and like a domineering female CEO dealing with a weak male subordinate, threw him onto the bed and then ripped off his clothes!

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Natsukawa Tiger struggled to his feet: "Hey! What are you doing! Indecent assault—wait, are you trying to set some weird death flag for me?"

"What strange things are you thinking? I'm just healing your wounds."

She rolled her eyes at him, then straddled him and quickly wrote several runes on his chest: "Even if you went, you would probably cause a lot of trouble, so I'm writing down some healing runes for you now in case you die halfway through."

"You're the only person I can rely on right now. If I want to die, you're the only one I can depend on at this stage. If you die, then I might not be able to die, so—"

Grabbing Natsukawa Tora by the collar, Reirakukan Misaya leaned close to him: "So, my life is in your hands. You must kill me for sure. If you can't, then even if you die, I will use a spirit summoning technique to summon your spirit and turn it into my familiar, so that you won't have peace even in death."

"Then I really have to thank you! Just for saying that, I'll make sure you die a death worse than death, a death that even spirit summoning or time reversal can't bring you back to life. Just wait to die peacefully and then go to the Western Paradise to become a Buddha!"

40. Meeting

Earlier—half an hour before Natsukawa Tora awoke, at Mount Enzo.

Standing at the foot of the mountain and looking at the entire mountain, Iskandar finally sensed the abnormality of this mountain after getting so close.

“The spiritual veins are converging into this mountain.”

Compared to humans, Servants are more sensitive to magical energy. In Iskandar's perception, Mount Enzo is like a balloon that is constantly and actively absorbing air from the outside world, and it has expanded to a rather terrifying extent.

Standing atop Iskandar's chariot, feeling his magical circuits become disordered due to the abnormal magical energy in the air, even a half-baked magician like Waver could clearly see that a formidable magical entity was lurking within Mount Enzo.

There exists within Mount Enzo that can be considered an enemy of the world; I hope you can assist in its subjugation.

Recalling what the woman named Reiko Misaya had said not long ago, Weber, who hadn't paid much attention to it before, was now completely panicked.

"What... what should I do, Rider? All my magic circuits have activated! There's definitely a terrifying monster lurking in this mountain!"

"I understand without you saying it. Now I know why that female magician still needed our help even with Saber by her side. Such a being is indeed not something a single Servant can handle."

Iskandar had seen many extraordinary beings in his lifetime, and even the two bulls of his chariot were divine beasts with a deep connection to the god Zeus. In terms of his experience, there shouldn't be many things that could surprise him.

But at this moment, Iskandar was surprised—even frightened—by the presence within Mount Enzo.

That is undoubtedly an "enemy." Everyone on this planet would think this the moment they learned of its existence. It is an "enemy" rejected and feared by all, an object that must be eliminated no matter what. Even the most heinous beings would not have any thought of cooperating with it or resonating with it.

That is absolute evil.

Stroking his long beard, Iskandar tapped his hands: "Alright, standing here isn't a solution, let's get into the mountains. Kid, you stay here."

"Eh... eh?"

After lifting Weber up like a chick and tossing him under the carriage, Iskandar laughed, "It's too early for you to go any further. You haven't earned the right to continue yet, so stay here and wait for my triumphant return."

"Huh? What—"

Waver instinctively wanted to retort, but the stinging magic circuits quickly calmed him down—Iskandar was right, he couldn't advance with him yet; his mediocre skills were far from sufficient. Just by sensing magic, he could tell that the being ahead was beyond his ability to face or handle, and even Iskandar might not be able to cope—his expression and eyes conveyed this.

This guy abandoned himself for his own safety.

Weber understood Iskandar's meaning.

He pursed his lips and asked, "Promise me, Rider, you will come back."

"Hahahaha! Who do you take me for?" Iskandar patted his chest and laughed loudly. "I am the unparalleled conqueror, Iskandar! No matter when, my departing figure and the triumphant horns will forever be etched in the hearts of my subjects!"

Subject?

Weber's frail body trembled slightly: "Am I... considered your subject?"

"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Iskandar patted him on the head and laughed, "Although you haven't fought against other Servants, you still stood on my chariot and followed me across the land and sky—doesn't that make you my subject?"

He considered himself his subject.

He himself was a half-baked mediocre person, yet he was a subject of the world-renowned conqueror king, a subject acknowledged by him.

For the first time in his life, he was recognized, and by an incredibly great king.

Waver's eyes instantly filled with tears, and then he raised his hand and said in a sobbing voice, "By Command Spell, I beseech my King—Rider, you must return in triumph!"

Without exception, all of the Conqueror King's subjects remembered his departing figure and the triumphant horns. Webber had already seen his departing figure, so this time, he hoped to hear the resounding horns.

"Kid..."

Gazing into Weber's eyes, which had just been wiping away tears, Iskandar was about to say something when a burst of golden particles suddenly gathered on the streetlights by the roadside. Gilgamesh, dressed in a suit of gleaming golden armor, looked down at the king and his subjects.

"The etiquette between ruler and subject before a great battle—while I am not one to be oblivious to romance, aren't you two bastards being far too slow?"

"You are... Ah, Archer from the Tohsaka family, you've come too?" Iskandar smiled at Gilgamesh. "What a coincidence. Were you also invited by that female magician?"

“A female magician? I have never seen such a being before. She is merely fulfilling her duties as a king.” Gilgamesh looked at Mount Enzang. “Although it is the duty of soldiers to eliminate beasts, these beasts are beyond the capabilities of soldiers. I have no choice but to come and deal with them personally.”

"Hey~~~ So you're here to deal with the guys in the mountains too? Then we're temporary comrades."

"Comrade?"

Gilgamesh's brow twitched violently, and a hint of anger instantly appeared on his face.

"Don't get too cocky. I have only one comrade-in-arms, both in the past and in the future! Your arrogant words deserve either death or the end of your life!"

"You're really hot-tempered... But at least I can confirm that the guy in the mountains is so troublesome that you don't want to waste your magic and energy on him before you even start a battle."

"......"

Iskandar couldn't help but smile as he looked at Gilgamesh, who had fallen silent.

Just then, another burst of light particles gathered and took shape not far away. Holding two magic spears, one long and one short, Diarmuid looked at Iskandar and Gilgamesh with some surprise.

"You two... could it be that you've also come for the things in the mountains?"

Well, so all three of them had the same goal?

Iskandar couldn't hold back any longer.

41. The final conquest, the hope of inheritance

Xia Chuanhu woke up half an hour later.

Outside the Matou residence, seeing Natsukawa Torata emerge from the house, Arthur, who had been guarding the door, immediately rushed forward: "Master! Thank goodness, you're finally awake!"

"I'm sorry to have worried you, Arthur. Although it's a bit rushed, let's head to Ayaka Sajou's place now."

Should we go to Sajo Aika's place now?

Arthur frowned upon hearing this: "But Master, your body—"

"I'm almost fully recovered. Also, Misaya Reirōkan cast a healing spell on me that lasts."

As he spoke, Natsukawa Tora unbuttoned his collar, revealing several runes on his chest emitting a faint green glow. Arthur was slightly relieved upon seeing this, but he was puzzled by a red mark near Natsukawa Tora's collarbone.

"Master, what is this mark?"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

He coughed a few times and forcefully turned his head to the side: "It's a personal secret, don't ask. Besides, now's not the time to talk about this. Hurry up and go see Sajou Aika. If you keep dawdling..."

"Well, I see."

Although still somewhat curious, Arthur was not one to be unable to distinguish between what was important and what was urgent. The matter that should be dealt with first was indeed Ayaka Sajou's situation.

Several years have passed since that Holy Grail War, and this karmic entanglement, born from his influence, must be brought to an end this time.

Bending down to pick up Natsukawa Torato, Arthur said, "Let's go, Master. This time, I will end all of this."

“No, it’s the two of us.” Natsukawa Torama shook his head and laughed. “Let’s go, Arthur, let’s end things between us and Sajō Aika, and at the same time end this farcical Holy Grail War.”

"Understood, Master!"

——————————————————————————————

Yuanzang Mountain.

In a large underground cave.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!"