Zongman, the journey begins from the wrong place

When she raised her head again, she showed a sad yet carefree smile, and a clear light appeared in her misty eyes.

"—Even if I'm a puppet, I still have things I want to do, things I want to accomplish even if it means sacrificing my life! Although this wish is just a selfish, shallow, and ignorant wish of a woman..."

Looking at Irisviel expressionlessly, Gilgamesh pondered for a long time and let out a long sigh.

"A wish is a wish, a will is a will. What's the point of talking about shallowness or greatness? It's just pathetic and ridiculous nonsense."

Although Gilgamesh was still mocking, Irisviel seemed to see a trace of compassion on the face of this oldest tyrant.

But before she could see clearly, the strange feeling quickly disappeared, and Gilgamesh regained his cold and cruel smile.

"The more superior a person, even a god, the more base their character often becomes. Greatness and brilliance are always born from the humble, the lowly, the ugly, even the props... This world is as cruel and full of malice as ever, and this hasn't changed in tens of thousands of years."

Even though Gilgamesh was just sitting there quietly, Irisviel felt a chill all over her body, even her blood seemed to be frozen.

"...Ei-Hero King?"

This time, Gilgamesh did not respond to Irisviel, but turned into a burst of golden light and dissipated on the spot.

After leaving the castle of Einzbern, Gilgamesh continued his wanderings, wandering in this era that was completely different from Uruk.

Although Emiya Kiritsugu and Irisviel had deliberately concealed the truth, they still couldn't fully understand the Servant's abilities, let alone the class of Archer.

Although Gilgamesh does not have the skill of clairvoyance, he can still see everything in front of him at a glance.

Although he decided to execute the bastard from another world, Gilgamesh still quite approved of his behavior of feeling and experiencing the contemporary world.

After wandering all night until morning, Gilgamesh suddenly felt something in his heart and walked in a certain direction, eventually entering the commercial street of the mountain town.

He found a restaurant in a busy commercial street that was somewhat out of tune with the surrounding paintings.

Hongzhou Annual Banquet Hall, Mount Tai.

Gilgamesh pushed the door open and the first thing he heard was the news broadcast from the TV on the wall.

"It's been reported that a gas pipeline leaked in the coastal park last night due to the deep-sea earthquake in the western Pacific Ocean, ultimately causing an explosion. Fortunately, it was late at night, so no casualties were reported. Experts predict that due to the influence of the Siberian cold front, the dryness in Fuyuki City has dropped to extremely low levels in the coming days. Fire precautions must be taken in the coming days..."

There was only one customer in the restaurant where the announcement was echoing.

And it was someone Gilgamesh recognized at first sight.

Just as Irisviel said, in Japanese, the name Kirei sounds like a homonym for "beautiful," and also means clear and beautiful, with a more feminine flavor.

But Kotomine Kirei himself does not conform to this at all.

Although his face is not old, one can still tell that he is a middle-aged man in his thirties.

Even wearing a loose black robe, it could not hide the sturdiness of his body, and his whole body was filled with a heavy silence.

He has short black hair, little expression on his face, and his black eyes reveal a solemn air.

Only when he put the dish in front of him into his mouth with a spoon did Kotomine Kirei's face reveal a twisted expression of mixed satisfaction and pain.

Gilgamesh walked closer and took a look. The first thing he noticed was that there were lines on the back of Kotomine Kirei's hand that looked like they were engraved in blood.

Although Kotomine Kirei was wearing gloves, the magical fluctuations were as dazzling as streetlights in Gilgamesh's eyes.

That is undoubtedly the Master's Command Seal.

Then, it was the food in front of Kotomine Kirei.

Wow! After taking a look, Gilgamesh exclaimed, "Wow!"

This dish seems to be called Mapo Tofu, but the plate in front of me is full of red oil and chili peppers, and the scarce tofu is completely submerged in it.

Gilgamesh felt that even he could not eat such a thing.

As an agent, Kotomine Kirei has undergone purgatory-like training. Although he has rarely fought in recent years, the instinct of vigilance is still engraved in his bones.

As Gilgamesh approached, even though Kotomine Kirei was indulging in the delicious taste of his mapo tofu, he immediately came to his senses, his eyes suddenly sharp—

It can't be sharp.

When Kotomine Kirei saw the blond young man in front of him, his whole body froze, and his hand, which was about to take out the black key, was suspended in mid-air, at a loss.

The Hero King, the oldest king, Gilgamesh.

Although he was a humanoid weapon bearing the name of an agent, he had no will to fight against it at this moment.

After all, not everyone could withstand yesterday's style of firing cannonballs, even among the servants.

Even if it was a servant summoned by the master, the mythical Queen of the Kingdom of Shadows said that although there is a way to kill Gilgamesh, facing the rain of Noble Phantasms head-on and fighting against the current like that silver servant is really crazy.

However, for the Heroic Spirits, this is more a question of fighting style and strategy.

After all, he is Acher. If Assassin gets close to him, he might be killed instantly.

Of course, Kotomine Kirei didn't have so much to worry about, because he had no choice at all.

Even in the close combat field that he is best at, Kotomine Kirei has no confidence in defeating the Servant, so he can only despair.

But to his surprise, Gilgamesh did not take action, but suddenly smiled at him.

"Kotomine Kirei, right? Do you know what pleasure is?"

These words made Kotomine Kirei stunned, and even despair was thrown out of his mind.

Kotomine Kirei really didn't know what happiness was. It should be said that he had no real sense of being alive.

Why do people live?

Kotomine Kirei never figured this out.

Whether pursuing something because of love or avoiding something because of fear and hatred, such emotions have never appeared in his heart.

Therefore, Kotomine Kirei really hates his father Kotomine Risho and his master Tōsaka Tokiomi, the kind of men who stand tall and know their mission since birth. He even wants to destroy them, seeing these people crying in despair after their missions and ideals are destroyed.

But the education he received since childhood made him understand that his idea was absolutely wrong.

Looking at Kotomine Kirei who was lost in thought, Gilgamesh slowly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a venomous gaze.

Interesting, interesting.

This is much more interesting than that clown Kiritsugu.

But when he sat down, Gilgamesh moved away the plate of mapo tofu that was so spicy just to look at it.

Who would eat this kind of Mapo Tofu?

*

I really want to eat Mapo Tofu.

On the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel, Artoria listened to her master's complaints, but her heart was thinking about the feeling when she had dinner with Noah yesterday.

The sentence "Although I like desserts the most, there are so many different flavors in this world. Wouldn't it be too narrow-minded to only be partial to one flavor?" really made Artoria regard him as a close friend in the dining world.

Unfortunately, there is no room to leave now.

"After all, I'm just a third-rate magician from the countryside. The magic barrier that five generations have spent hundreds of years to build is still so crude. I can only fool others."

In the luxurious suite, Kenneth looked at the magic barrier in the Tohsaka residence through the images transmitted by the reconnaissance demon, and shook the wine glass in his hand with disdain.

Thinking of the figure that frightened him last night, a sense of humiliation arose in his heart, driving the young lord to make a decision.

"Saber, let's set off tonight and eliminate the Tohsaka family!"

Altria opened her mouth, but finally decided to give some advice.

"Master, after yesterday's exploration, the Tōsaka residence should have been targeted by many people. If we are the first to move out, once we get into a fierce battle with Tōsaka Tokiomi, it will be easy for others to take advantage of us."

Kenneth pursed his lips and glanced at her.

That look made Altria's heart sink.

Sure enough, the ridicule arrived as expected.

"The legendary King Arthur, with my Master's power, was suppressed by an unknown pretty boy whose parameters were so much inferior to yours. Don't you even have the courage to take the initiative to attack? Then, how about I book a few restaurants for you, so that you can eat and drink your fill and return to the Throne of Heroes directly?"

This sarcastic taunt made Saber clench her fists silently.

Kenneth was, after all, a genius who had just graduated from an academy. He could only judge strength based on numbers and could not truly understand what it felt like to fight for his life.

What is the key to determining the outcome of a battle?

Strength? Speed? Technique? Experience?

Artoria thinks it is both and neither.

Anything can happen in a battle; any detail or random event can determine victory or defeat; even one's own advantage can turn against one's own side in certain circumstances.

This may be the cruelest point of the battle. Any literal judgment may eventually be defeated by the impermanence of the world.

And Noah is the kind of warrior whose strength goes beyond his numbers.

His swordsmanship, experience, mentality, and even his willingness to sacrifice his life in battle almost made up for his numerical deficiencies.

But Altria would not shirk responsibility. After all, as a master, Kenneth was indeed very outstanding.

Compared to her who has super abundant magic power, Noah can be said to be a beggar, and the reason why he was suppressed is entirely due to the gap between them.

This left Altria with no position to refute Kenneth.

But, we can't just watch him die.

Artoria's mind changed quickly, and her eyes suddenly lit up, and the ahoge on her head stood up.

Although it was a bit despicable, Artoria felt that she had no choice.

Noah, I'm sorry.

This time, I will definitely knock you to the ground and drag you back to Camelot...

"In that case, could you please, Master, give me a chance to wash away this shame? Noah Sifel must be very weak right now. If he recovers, or gains sufficient mana, he will probably become our greatest opponent in this war."

This suggestion made Kenneth frown and fall into deep thought.

Although he blamed Altria, after watching the scene of the Silver-haired Heroic Spirit beating up the King of Heroes yesterday, he could actually understand how terrifying the other party was.

If such a servant were to obtain sufficient magical power, it would be terrifying.

From a rational point of view, eliminating it now is indeed the safest choice...

"Don't blame others for your own incompetence. Saber fought in front of me yesterday. Kayneth, at least experience the battlefield firsthand before you speak."

When Artoria heard Sora suddenly speak, her heart skipped a beat, but it was too late.

"Enough! Sora! Tonight I will defeat Tōsaka Tokiomi with my own hands! I will show you that I am not only a genius in magic, but I am also equally as skilled in combat!"

Seeing that Kenneth was aroused to fight, Altria couldn't help but sigh and glanced at Sora.

Although she was speaking for herself, there was always a slight sense of unease in Altria's heart.

After returning from the Seaside Park yesterday, Sora often looked dazed, hugging the pillow Noah gave her and laughing strangely from time to time.

He just spoke suddenly after Kenneth humiliated Noah.

It can’t be Guinevere again... I hope it’s just my illusion.

99 Medea: Your brother is very smooth

Mount Enzo is located in the mountains southwest of Fuyuki City. It is the gathering place of many spiritual veins in Fuyuki City and the center of magic flow. There is a huge cavity underground.

The spiritual vein is also called the dragon vein, so the big cave is also called the dragon cave, meaning the cave where the dragon lives.

The name of "Liudong Temple" built on the mountain also comes from this.

Liudong Temple is located high in the mountains and is sparsely populated. There is only a bluestone staircase hidden by dense forests extending downwards, from which one can get a glimpse of the surrounding conditions. It is a place that is easy to defend but difficult to attack.

The fact that no master had taken such a place as a base was due to various coincidences.

The three great families, who understood the status of Ryudo-ji, occupied spiritual veins only slightly inferior to Mt. Enzo. It was not worthwhile to abandon a magic workshop that had taken generations to build for a few magic powers.

The foreign Master was in such a hurry that he could hardly familiarize himself with the entire urban area of Fuyuki City, let alone find the location of Ryudo Temple in the mountains.

Moreover, Ryudo Temple is the intersection center of Fuyuki City's spiritual veins, and any slight fluctuation will spread in all directions. It can be said that although it is a base with very advantageous conditions tactically, it is strategically exposed and has no cover.

However, even though the three great families did not take the initiative to occupy Ryudo Temple, they arranged many familiars to monitor the periphery.

It was for this reason that Noah did not take action immediately after discovering Liudong Temple.

He might be able to set up the barrier and absorb the magic power, but it is almost impossible to cover it up completely.