292 Banquet at the Einzbern Castle (3)

The place chosen for the banquet was the parterre in the central courtyard of the castle. Thanks to Drako's actions, there was no battle the night before in the castle. It was cold, but that didn't matter to anyone present.

Rider brought the chest to the central courtyard, and the three of them sat down in a sort of triangle. Kuroka sat next to Irisviel and Waver while Mordred watched standing. It was funny how she looked like a bodyguard.

Rider shattered the chest's lid with his fist; the musky fragrance of rice wine filled the air of the courtyard.

"Although it was made in an odd shape, it is the unique cup in this country."

Rider happily poured some wine with the long bamboo ladle. Unfortunately, no one pointed out the error in his common sense.

Rider first drained the wine into the ladle in one gulp and said:

"I heard that only those who are worthy will get the Holy Grail."

The solemn tone set the atmosphere in silence. Something must be going on if this man is speaking in this tone of voice.

"And the ceremony of choosing him worthy is this battle conducted in Fuyuki - however, if we are only spectators, there will be no need for bloodshed. As Heroic Spirits, if we can mutually recognize each other's strength... I don't have to say more after this, do I?"

"..."

Without hesitation, Saber took the long ladle that Rider passed to her and took a full measure of wine.

Saber's slender body made the others worry if she could truly drink alcohol. However, Saber's determination with the drink was not deficient in any way compared to that of the giant Rider. Seeing this, Rider happily praised her.

"So, first, you're going to compete with me to see who's the strongest, Rider?"

"Exactly. Going through a real competition in the name of majesty. But we can't call this 'the Holy Grail War', we'd better call it the 'Holy Grail Trial'... In the end, between the King of Knights and the King of Conquerors, who will become 'the King of the Holy Grail'? It is more appropriate to ask that question to the wine cup."

Rider made a complete turn from the previous solemn tone, laughing as if making a joke. Then he began to speak to himself.

"Ah, speaking of which, there's another fellow here who calls himself 'king'."

"- The jokes end here, half-breed."

As if responding to Rider's vague words, a dazzling golden light shone to arrive in front of those present.

"Archer, why are you here..."

Saber mentioned furiously, but the one responding was the impassive Rider.

"Ah, when I saw him on the street, I invited him to drink together - but you're late anyway, Goldie. Anyway, it's different than my case, he walked here, so it's not all his fault."

Archer, in full armor, looked arrogantly at Rider with his fiery pair of ruby-like eyes.

"I trust you picked this disgusting place to conduct the banquet; this is probably all the good taste you can get. How are you going to repay your sin of making me come all the way here?"

"Don't say that. Go on, have a drink first."

Laughing warmly, Rider passed the ladle full of wine to Archer.

People thought he would be infuriated with Rider's attitude, but, surprisingly, he straightforwardly took the ladle and swallowed all the wine in one gulp.

Irisviel remembered the 'challenge' Saber mentioned earlier.

Archer. Since this anonymous golden Heroic Spirit calls himself a 'king', he couldn't refuse the wine Rider passed to him.

"- What kind of cheap wine is this? How can you use this kind of wine to conduct a fight between heroes?"

Archer said with revulsion written all over his face.

"Really? I bought it here at the market; it's a pretty good wine."

"You only think that because you don't know anything about wine, beggar."

From one side of Archer, who mockingly desiccated in wine, ripples appeared in the empty space. That was the herald of the strange event that could summon Noble Phantasms; Waver and Irisviel felt a chill run down their spines.

- But what appeared at Archer's side tonight were not weapons; instead, it was a set of wine bottles engraved with sparkling gems. A lucid colorless liquid filled the bottles made of heavy gold.

"Admire, this is what 'the king's wine' should be."

"Oh, thank you very much."

Rider paid no attention to Archer's tone and happily poured the new wine into four glasses.

Saber was still on guard against Archer, whose identity she did not yet know. She hesitantly looked at the wine in the golden bottle but still took the glass passed to her.

"This is definitely excellent wine."

Drako complimented the wine, and he wasn't lying at all. He probably hadn't tasted anything approaching the quality of this drink. As expected from Gilgamesh.

The wine was fiery and clear, soft and invigorating, the pungent fragrance filled his nose, and his whole body felt like it was floating.

Or that should be the feeling Drako would have to have if it weren't for the fact that he was immune to poisons. It was a shame, but he could no longer enjoy alcoholic beverages like a normal person could.

"This is the drink of the gods; it's normal for even a dragon known for his exquisite palate to think it's fabulous."

Archer spared no expense when it came to being cocky. Getting a dragon's attention like this was something he had never managed to do in his life. This was already a victory for him.

"Wait... did you say dragon?!"

The four kings turned to look at Waver, who had interrupted their meeting. He had a shocked look on his face as if he couldn't believe what he had heard.