Generally speaking, red wines that are fermented and stored in oak barrels have good quality. There are also many considerations when it comes to drinking this type of wine. Shinji, who has not systematically studied this knowledge, is not clear about the specifics, but he knows for sure that it is not like Rider, who uses his fist to pry open the barrel and uses a bamboo wine ladle to serve the wine.
While serving the wine, Rider boasts to others.
"Although the shape is a bit strange, this is a traditional wine vessel in this country."
Scathach looked at Rider's cheerful and somewhat funny expression, sighed lightly, and corrected Rider's mistake.
"That is indeed a traditional Eastern wine vessel called a 'sakazuki' or 'sakazukihishaku,' but it is not used for serving red wine, let alone as a wine glass."
"Is that so? Ahahaha." Rider laughed foolishly and rubbed the back of his head. "No wonder the shopkeeper looked at me strangely. It turns out I was wrong. Hey, Saber's Master, are there any cups for drinking in the castle? Bring a few."
Irisviel asked Saber with her eyes, and after receiving a positive reply, she turned around and ran off.
"So, during this time—Saber, Archer, Assassin, have you heard of such a legend? The legend that the Holy Grail will only be given to the worthy one, and the consciousness that determines worthiness is this war in Fuyuki."
Rider said calmly, igniting the flames of war. Although it is rare to see him speak with such a serious tone, there is no feeling of being out of place.
"But if it's just about determining the candidate, there is no need for bloodshed. If there is a 'worthiness' that all the Heroic Spirits recognize, then the answer will naturally appear."
"Are you saying that tonight's banquet is a competition of this 'worthiness'? Is that right?"
Saber, dressed in a black suit, raised her eyebrow with a touch of dignity.
"Exactly, a true competition in the name of 'kingship.' In other words, this is not the 'Holy Grail War,' but the 'Holy Grail Q&A.' Who is more worthy of being the 'King of the Holy Grail'? Using wine to ask is the clearest way."
At this moment, Irisviel returned with several wine glasses in her arms. Saber took the wine glasses, and Rider poured wine into them using the wine ladle.
"Come, let's have a drink first."
Rider said and drank the wine in the cup first. His bold drinking style, which was incompatible with the wine glass and red wine, had no disharmony when it came to Rider. It was the measure of a hero's caliber and personal charm.
Although the other three Servants appeared smaller in stature compared to Rider, their drinking prowess was not inferior at all. This was a battle disguised as a "banquet," and everyone attending the banquet was a king. No one would weaken their momentum.
After drinking the wine in their cups, Rider, Assassin, and Saber had unchanged expressions, while only Archer showed a disgusted expression.
"What kind of inferior wine is this? Do you think you can measure a hero's caliber with this?"
"Is that so? This is one of the best goods in the local market."
Rider said this because he didn't know that in modern times, real good wine would not be found in the market, and although Fuyuki City had many foreigners living in it, it was still a small city and did not have a place to sell high-end wines.
"You think that way because you don't know what real wine is, you mongrel."
Archer sneered, and the space beside him began to twist and distort. Waver and Irisviel witnessed this phenomenon, knowing that it was a precursor to the manifestation of countless Noble Phantasms. They immediately felt a chill and stood up.
But tonight, Archer summoned something other than weapons by his side. It was a set of wine vessels adorned with dazzling gemstones. The heavy golden bottles contained transparent, colorless liquid.
"Take a good look. This is the true 'Wine of Kings.'"
"Oh, oh, this is excellent."
Rider didn't pay any mind to Archer's unpleasant demeanor and happily poured the newly acquired wine into the four matching golden wine cups.
Scathach naturally picked up the two wine cups in front of her and handed one to Saber, who also had Celtic origins.
Saber seemed more cautious than the other two about Archer's intentions. Although she hesitated a little about the wine in the golden bottle, she still did not refuse and accepted the cup handed to her by Scathach.
"Mmm, it's delicious!"
Rider, who drank first, opened his eyes wide and exclaimed loudly.
Saber's curiosity surpassed her caution. Moreover, in this place and time, they were comparing each other's character, so how could she leave the wine poured by others?
As the wine touched her throat, Saber felt a strong sense of expansion in her mind. It was a top-quality wine she had never tasted before—intense and refreshing, rich and exhilarating. The overwhelmingly intense pleasure of taste overshadowed her sense of smell, and even her vision and touch dulled momentarily.
"This is amazing! This wine must not have been brewed by humans. Is it something from mythological times?"
Hearing Rider's praise, Archer revealed a tranquil smile.
"Assassin, can you discern the origin of this wine?"
Seemingly casual, the question carried a deeper meaning. It was a clash of knowledge and insight. Archer wanted to test the "Wisdom of the Magical Realm," an extraordinary ability that placed him beyond humanity, as the legends said.
Scathach put down her wine cup and responded while sitting, "Rider is right. It is indeed something from mythological times, and it is a wine that only the wine gods themselves have the privilege to drink."
"The wine god? Dionysus?" Rider, living in ancient Greece, immediately thought of the Greek mythological wine god Dionysus.
"No," Scathach shook her head, "it is an even older deity than Dionysus. It is the origin of all wine gods like Dionysus and Bacchus. In the earliest times, gods didn't have names, nor were they categorized into pantheons as in human mythologies. They were natural extensions, products of concepts—fire gods were fire gods, war gods were war gods, thunder gods were thunder gods, and wine gods were wine gods. As humanity developed, these singular concepts diversified and branched out into various pantheons, each with their gods holding similar positions. Archer's wine should be the original wine of the primordial wine god. Am I correct?"
Upon hearing this answer, Archer looked at Scathach with approving eyes.
"Correct! Your erudition deserves my praise, Assassin. Whether it's fine wine or swords, in my treasury, there are only the most supreme treasures. This is the taste of a king."
"Are you kidding, Archer?"
The one who sternly rebuked was Saber, and the calm atmosphere was gradually shattered by the tense atmosphere.
"To judge the way of kings based on the quality of wine is absurd. You don't seem like a king, but rather a clown."
Faced with Saber's anger, Archer just snorted.
"How unsightly. Those who don't know how to enjoy fine wine are unworthy of claiming kingship."
"Stop arguing, both sides' accusations are boring."
Rider, with a wry smile, interrupted Saber, who was about to retort, and Rider continued speaking.
"Archer, your exquisite wine is indeed worthy of these precious wine cups. Unfortunately, the Holy Grail is not a wine cup. This is a Holy Grail quiz to test who is most qualified to obtain the Holy Grail. First, let's hear what wish you have entrusted to the Holy Grail. Otherwise, there's no point in discussing further. Archer, as a king, find a way to persuade us that you are qualified to obtain the Holy Grail."
"You mongrel, don't push your luck. Besides, this has already deviated from the premise of 'competing' for the Holy Grail."
"Hmm?"
Seeing Rider furrow his brow and showing a surprised expression, Archer sighed as if in resignation.
"To be honest, that item originally belonged to this king. All the treasures in the world come from this king's treasury. Although some things may have been lost over time, those treasures still belong to this king."
"So, you once possessed the Holy Grail? And you also know what the Holy Grail is?"
"I don't know."
Archer flatly denied Rider's questioning.
"Don't judge by your mongrel standards. The total number of treasures this king possesses has long exceeded the scope of this king's knowledge. But as long as that item is a 'treasure,' it means it is this king's wealth. Trying to take this king's belongings without permission, even thieves should know when to stop."
This time, Saber was astonished by Archer's words.
"Your words are no different from Caster's ramblings. It seems more than one Servant is suffering from a mental disorder."
"No, it's not that simple."
Unlike Saber, Rider murmured, as if echoing. At some point, he had already picked up a wine bottle and poured more wine into his cup without any concern.
"It seems like I've already guessed the golden shimmering true name. There's only one person who is even more arrogant than me, Iskandar."
Rider's astonishing statement made Irisviel and Waver perk up their ears, but he didn't continue and changed the topic.
"So, Archer, as long as we have your permission, we can obtain the Holy Grail?"
Rider asked with a mischievous smile, knowingly asking. Archer glanced at him with sharp eyes.
"That's right, but this king has no reason to bestow treasures upon mongrels like you."
"You, are you a miser?"
"Foolish. I only bestow gifts upon my subjects and people."
Archer replied with a mocking smile towards Rider.
"So, Rider, if you are willing to submit to me, I can reward you with one or two cups anytime."
"...Well, that's impossible."
Rider scratched his chin, seemingly having difficulty accepting it, with a puzzled expression.
"But Archer, it seems like you don't care about the Holy Grail, nor did you participate in the Holy Grail War to obtain it."
"Of course. But this king cannot allow thieves to lay hands on this king's treasures. It's a matter of principle."
"Archer, are you implying something—"
Before Rider could finish his words, he emptied his cup of wine and continued speaking.
"Is there some meaning or logic behind this?"
"It's the law."
Archer immediately responded.
"The laws decreed by this king, a ruler."
"Hmm."
Rider seemed to accept his statement and let out a deep sigh.
"Truly a perfect king, able to uphold the principles he has set. However, I still desire the Holy Grail. My approach is simple: if I want it, I'll seize it because I am Iskandar, the Conqueror King."
"No problem. If you break the law, this king will enforce it. There's no room for debate."
"Well, then we'll settle it on the battlefield."
Archer maintained a dignified attitude, while Rider showed a relieved expression as if dispelling his doubts. The two nodded in agreement on the same point of view.
"But Archer, let's finish this bottle of wine first. We can save the battle for later."
"Of course. Or were you planning to waste the fine wine this king offered?"
"How could that be? How can I let such top-quality wine go to waste?"
Saber had been silently watching Archer and Rider gradually create a communication that seemed neither hostile nor friendly. Finally, she turned to Rider and asked.
"Conqueror King, since you've acknowledged that the true ownership of the Holy Grail belongs to someone else, do you still intend to seize it by force?"
"...Hm? Yes, of course. My kingship is about 'conquering'... which means 'seizing' and 'invading.'"
Suppressing the anger burning within her, Saber continued her questioning.
"What is your wish for the Holy Grail that compels you to go to such lengths?"
Rider seemed a bit embarrassed, chuckled lightly, took a sip of wine, and then answered.
"To obtain a physical body."
It was an unexpected answer that no one had anticipated. As for Waver, he was so astonished that he couldn't help but exclaim, rushing to Rider's side to question him.
"You, you, you, you! Your wish isn't to conquer the world—wow!"
With a customary forehead flick to silence his Master, Rider shrugged and said.
"Idiot. Why would I need a cup to conquer the world? Conquest is a dream entrusted to me. The wish for the Holy Grail is only the first step towards realizing that dream."
"Mongrel... to challenge me over such a trivial matter."
Even Archer wore a surprised expression, but Rider's expression remained serious.
"Even if we can materialize using magical energy, we are still Servants, not belonging to this world. Are you satisfied with that?"
"I am not satisfied. I have reincarnated in this world to become a true life."
"..."
Upon hearing Rider's words, Waver remembered that Rider always resisted becoming a spiritual form and had a strange habit of maintaining a physical form.
Indeed, even though Rider can speak, dress, and eat like a human, fundamentally, there isn't much difference between them and a ghost.
"Why do you desire a physical body so much?"
"Because that is the foundation of 'conquest'."
Clasping the enormous palm, Iskandar looked at his fist and spoke softly.
"Stand tall, facing the heavens and the earth. That encompasses everything about the act of 'conquest'... From there, we push forward and achieve our goals. That is the essence of my authority as the king. But now, I don't even possess a physical form. This is unacceptable; I can't even get started like this. I fear nothing; I just feel the need for a physical body."
Archer silently raised the cup to his lips, unsure if he was listening to Rider's words.
However, upon closer inspection, the expression that appeared at the corner of his mouth was unlike any expression shown by this golden Heroic Spirit until now. If one were to describe it, it was a smile-like expression, but Archer had only ever displayed mocking expressions from the past until now. This particular expression was excessively eerie, instilling fear in anyone who saw it.
"Decision made—Rider, I will personally kill you."
"You're still talking like that now? You better prepare yourself. Not only will I claim the Holy Grail, but I also plan to plunder your treasury. Allowing the King of Conquest to taste such fine wine, you truly have been careless."
Rider laughed heartily and turned towards Scathach, who had remained silent since earlier.
"It's your turn now, Assassin."
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Note: It's kind of late, but this fanfic has already achieved 100k words. So, I think it's time for reviews. For every Five 5-star review, I will provide 1 bonus chapter. I repeat, only 5-star reviews will qualify.
Also every 100 Power Stone Growth = 1 Bonus Chapter
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