That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

He handed Saber a wooden spoon containing the wine.

Saber didn't take the wooden spoon, and gave a light hum: "I think this place is perfect. There won't be much interference from anyone other than us. Quiet is a symbol of authority."

Aren't you going to drink?

"If you drink wine with this kind of spoon, even the most delicious wine will lose its flavor."

"Haha, indeed, it's too small for a cup."

As Rider laughed, Irisviel brought over several large plates, placed them in front of the two Servants, glanced nervously at Rider, and stepped aside.

Rider, seeing Irisviel, exclaimed, "Oh, so this is your Master? He seems much more reliable than my boy."

Saber smiled faintly and said proudly, "Indeed, Irisviel is an excellent Master that I can be proud of."

Suddenly, a clear and arrogant voice rang out from the sky: "Serving Homunculus as Master? How laughable! They are all a bunch of bastards."

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw golden particles coalescing into luxurious golden armor, from which the golden servant strolled out.

“Archer.” Saber frowned, realizing the accuracy of Shinji Matou’s assessment of Archer. Even by the standards of heroes, those participating in this Holy Grail War were all problem children.

Rider greeted him cheerfully, "Oh, you've arrived, the golden servant."

Archer's crimson eyes swept over Rider, and he grinned: "Bastard, I didn't hold it against you for destroying my Noble Phantasm last time, but you dare to show your face before me again. Don't think I'll forgive you a second time."

Despite saying that, Archer had no intention of making a move.

Rider laughed dismissively: "Don't say such boring things. Didn't you accept my invitation to this banquet? You're a bit late, so drink a penalty shot."

"Humph!"

Archer snorted and looked around at the scenery with disdain, saying, "What a dull and boring place, not suitable for a royal banquet at all."

"There's no other way. After all, we can't appear in front of ordinary people. This remote place is the most suitable."

“Ridiculous, why should I care about the gaze of a bastard?”

Rider filled a large bowl with wine, which Irisviel had given him, and handed it to Archer.

The golden servant took it, sniffed it, and said with disdain, "What kind of inferior wine is this? Do you really think this cheap stuff is suitable for measuring the character of a hero?"

“What can I do? This is the best sake I can buy in Fuyuki City, and it’s definitely a fine sake compared to the sake from my time,” Rider sighed.

"That's only because you bastards have never tasted real wine."

Golden ripples spread out in front of Archer, and a golden container fell down.

Saber glanced at the container and said unhappily, "Archer, is this all the fine wine you've got? Do you really think this is enough to satisfy us?"

Ok?

Saber's casual remark provoked Archer like an enraged lion, who roared, "Nonsense! My treasury holds all the finest wines of the past and present, as many as you desire!"

After he finished speaking, the gates of Babylon opened again, and magnificent containers of different styles fell down one after another, some made of bronze, some of jade, and some of gold. What they had in common was that they were all decorated with extreme luxury.

Archer declared, “No need to be so polite with me. Thank me for my generous gift. It is because of my generosity that you are qualified to taste the best wine in the world.”

“I hope you’re not just talking big,” Saber said calmly.

"How dare this lowly bastard question me, the king?"

Seeing Archer's enraged expression, Rider suppressed a laugh and tried to smooth things over: "Sit down, sit down. Now is not the time for fighting."

"But didn't those two bastards attend the banquet?" Archer looked around and asked in confusion.

Rider scratched the back of his head, looking rather regretful, and said, "Oh! You mean Caster and Lancer? I rode the Kamui Wheel around the whole city but couldn't find them, and they didn't respond either. Are you concerned about them?"

“Caster or not, Lancer is different from you. She is qualified to drink with me on the same stage.”

"Oh! It seems Lancer is quite the hero too."

Archer sat down, watching Rider pour fine wine from jade bottles into the large bowls. His brow twitched almost imperceptibly. These were the finest wines in his treasury. Unlike other treasures that could be recycled and repaired, these wines were gone with every sip. He treasured them dearly and only took them out to savor when he was in a particularly good mood.

Archer had just taken out two-thirds of the finest wines from the Babylonian vault, which pained him even more than the destruction of the Golden Ark Vimana by Rider.

Archer swirled the wine in his golden cup, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rider gulp down the wine in his large bowl. His hearty manner greatly displeased Archer; that damned bastard didn't even know how to appreciate wine.

"Good wine!" Rider laughed loudly.

Saber also downed the wine in one gulp, looking surprised. The wine was indeed just as Archer had said, and he could even feel his spiritual magic power recover slightly after drinking it.

Seeing the surprised expressions on the two Servants' faces, Archer's gloomy expression eased considerably, and he said cheerfully, "Of course, whether it's Noble Phantasms or fine wine, my treasury contains only the best."

He took a sip and said with certainty, "In this way, the balance between us is set."

Saber put down his large bowl and shook his head: "The wine is good, but the people are not necessarily so. A person who looks down on others, even if he calls himself a king, will not have a very high level of character."

"A sharp-tongued girl, contempt? How laughable! I have always stood at the pinnacle of all heroes. As for you, bastards should know your place."

Rider echoed, "Archer, I now have a rough idea of ​​your identity. Your wine is indeed a treasure, but unfortunately, the Holy Grail is not a wine cup. You must tell me what kind of wish you have placed on the Holy Grail."

"Hmph, how dare this lowly bastard question me? The questioning has already deviated from the premise of seizing the Holy Grail. In the end, the Holy Grail originally belonged to me, and the origin of all the treasures in this world can be traced back to my treasury."

"As expected, Archer, if you say the Holy Grail is yours, then do you even know what the Holy Grail is?"

Archer said indifferently, "I don't know. Don't judge me by the standards of a bastard. The treasures I possess have long exceeded my comprehension. You actually want to steal them? There's a limit to your shamelessness, you bastards."

Saber scoffed, "Golden Servant, is it because your class isn't Archer but Berserker that you've lost your mind?"

"you!"

Archer's face suddenly stiffened, and he looked at Saber in disbelief. There is a limit to rudeness. If this were not a banquet, he would have already unleashed his Noble Phantasm on Saber and torn her to pieces.

Rider glanced at Archer's stiff expression and chuckled before he could explode in anger: "Archer, are you saying that all I need to get the Holy Grail is your permission?"

Archer sneered with a dark face: "Indeed, but I have no reason to bestow such treasures upon you bastards!"

Rider said unhappily, "Since you have such a vast treasure trove, what's wrong with giving one of your treasures to someone else? Could it be... you're a stingy person?"

Saber drinks to hide his smile, it seems Rider has figured out Archer's personality and found a way to deal with him.

"What a joke! My favors are only bestowed upon my subjects! Rider, if you submit to me, I might as well reward you with a cup or two of wine."

Saber laughed and said, "I think this is a great suggestion. Rider, didn't you just say you wanted me to join your team? You two are a good match."

“What? That’s disgusting.” Archer said, looking annoyed.

After careful consideration, Rider firmly refused: "I cannot accept this proposal, but Archer, you're not stingy with the Holy Grail, are you?"

"I must punish any thief who attempts to steal my treasure."

"So what kind of principle is contained in this?"

"The law, I am the law."

"A perfect answer. No wonder you're the king of heroes." Rider took a sip of his drink, slightly tipsy, and full of admiration.

Saber frowned slightly, disagreeing with Archer's statements and actions.

Precisely because they are kings, and precisely because they hold ideas far beyond those of ordinary people, the more rugged and narrow the road becomes, the less likely they are to understand each other.

Although the prince's banquet is old-fashioned, cringeworthy, and has been written about to death.

However, I really want to write about Saber from Fate/stay night, not Saber from Fate/Zero. I wonder what her reaction would be, and what language she would use to refute the King of Conquerors' path.

After all, the original work was a competition to bully Saber.

This made Saber appear to have completely lost the glory and conviction that a Knight King should possess.

Although I'm not a fan of the King, I still have to say that the King is the best!

Chapter Fifty-Five: Those who wish to draw the king's sword must bear the consequences.

Inside the Rose Garden, the atmosphere was eerie, with the three kings gathered and the Master listening intently.

Rider sat on the ground, sipping his wine and praising softly: "His words are law, he upholds his beliefs, and he reigns supreme over all others; he truly deserves to be called the king of kings."

After a pause, Rider's gaze pierced Archer like a sharp sword, and he said resolutely, "However, Archer, I want the Holy Grail no matter what. If I want it, I will take it by force. That is what I, Iskandar the Conqueror, do."

The Golden Servant seemed unconcerned about Rider's offense, chuckling, "Hmph? Since you know my identity and still dare to offend me, you've violated the law. I will punish you without any room for explanation."

"Haha, as expected, we still can't avoid turning against each other."

The atmosphere at the banquet became tense because of these words, and the expressions of both Masters, Irisviel and Waver, changed drastically.

Saber calmly put down the large bowl, a blush rising on her fair and delicate face, her slight intoxication evident: "Rider, you admit that the Holy Grail belongs to Archer and still want to take it, going to such lengths. What is your wish for the Holy Grail?"

Both Master and Servant looked at Rider, curious about what answer the King of Conquerors would give.

Rider, slightly embarrassed, answered in a low voice, "I'll take the meat."

"Ha!" Waver, Rider's Master, exclaimed from the side, yelling at Rider, "Isn't your wish to conquer the world!?"

Saber and Archer were also surprised by Rider's answer, which was that being flesh meant acquiring a body.

Rider shouted, "You idiot, what do you know? Suffering is just the first step. What's the point of letting a cup conquer the world for me? The Holy Grail is my starting point."

"Hahahahaha."

Archer laughed gleefully: "I already knew you were a fool, but I never imagined you could be so stupid that it made me happy. Participating in this Holy Grail War isn't all bad; you clowns are quite good at pleasing me."

Rider gazed at his right hand. "Although we are able to sit here now, it is at best due to the magic of the Holy Grail. I want to be reborn into this world as a life, to carry out my kingly way, to conquer heaven and earth, to conquer the world."

Saber commented calmly, "What a foolish idea."

Rider scratched the back of his head sheepishly: "I didn't expect even you to say that, Saber."

Saber continued, "Conqueror King, since you were summoned, you must have been granted common knowledge about this world by the Holy Grail. Even if you regain your physical body, so what? Your followers are gone, and the empire you built has long since collapsed. All that remains in this world is your name. You have nothing, yet you harbor the thought of conquering the world. Hmph, Conqueror King Iskandar, what does it feel like to stand at the edge of the world and see the boundless sea? Can you find a way to cross the boundless sea?"

To anyone else, Rider's wish was an unrealistic fantasy.

Rider clenched his fists tightly and said decisively, "It doesn't matter. No matter how rugged the road is, I will persevere. Starting with the Holy Grail, I will gradually advance and rebuild my former glory."

Archer chuckled lightly: "I have decided to kill you with my own hands and end your childish delusions."

"Now that things have come to this, it goes without saying that I also really want to take your treasure. You'd better watch out. But let's finish this wine first." Rider poured himself another drink from his large bowl and downed it in one gulp.

"Of course, it's still because you bastards look down on my fine wine."

Rider savored the wine and exclaimed sincerely, "It's truly delicious. Even if we lose this Holy Grail War, it won't be meaningless to be able to drink such fine wine."

Archer glanced at Saber with his crimson eyes: "Saber, what kind of obsession do you have with the Holy Grail?"

Saber put down the large bowl in his hand, his holy blue eyes more serious than ever before: "My wish is to save my homeland and change the fate of Britain's collapse."

The atmosphere suddenly changed to solemnity. This wish did not surprise anyone present; everyone hopes for a way to undo their mistakes. However, the meaning was completely different when the words came from the mouth of the Knight King.