Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 103: Saber’s Wish

Silence.

A long silence.

Archer, Rider, and Saber, the three kings, remained motionless in their seats, not even taking a sip of their drinks.

Scathach, who caused this moment of silence, silently poured herself a glass of wine and took small sips.

Finally, Rider let out a long breath, breaking the silence.

"To be honest, Assassin, I have only lived for 33 years in my life. There are still many dreams I haven't fulfilled, and many sceneries I haven't seen. I can't fully understand your perspective. Archer, what about you? I remember you once pursued eternity. You should at least understand to some extent."

"A foolish question, Rider," Archer narrowed his slender eyes. "If I had obtained eternity, I wouldn't be here. As for Assassin's wish, I won't comment on it. I'm only interested in things within this world. I have no concern or interest in things outside of it."

Rider turned his head to the side.

"And what about you, Saber?"

"No, I cannot. Although my body stopped aging after pulling out the Sword in the Stone, I did not attain eternity. Perhaps Merlin could understand."

"The wise sage of Britain, the great magician Merlin?"

Upon hearing Saber's answer, Scathach nodded, then shook her head.

"He and I are similar in some ways, but there are fundamental differences. He is a hybrid of human and nightmare. Though he looks human, his mental structure and characteristics are closer to that of a nightmare. The immortality he possesses stems from this, but he may not understand or, rather, he may not be interested in this aspect. How should I describe him..."

"...He's an old rogue."

"Yes, an old...uh, Master!"

While Scathach was considering her choice of words, Shinji blurted out, almost derailing the conversation. Scathach couldn't help but glare at Shinji.

"Don't glare at me. Merlin is an old rogue," Shinji touched his nose and bowed to the other three kings. "Apologies for any offense caused to the esteemed kings. I couldn't help myself."

"No worries," Rider waved his hand grandly, exuding both magnanimity and authority. "A king's words should be heard by the masses, and in turn, a king should listen to the words of the people. Assassin's Master, I recall you calling yourself Kusuo Saiki. Speak your opinion."

"I also want to hear the modern perspective on Merlin. Please, Kusuo Saiki-kun," Saber also expressed her agreement.

"Thank you for your generosity."

Shinji bowed once again. Adhering to surface-level etiquette could save a lot of trouble. He never insisted on irrelevant details and certainly didn't harbor any self-centered Chuunibyou thoughts.

"Using his Clairvoyance and the nature of nightmares, he peeps into people's privacy all day long. Isn't that the behavior of an old rogue? Who knows, he might be using his Clairvoyance to spy on us right now, secretly enjoying himself."

When Clairvoyance is used as a skill or talent, it manifests as a comprehensive enhancement of vision, including the field of view, dynamic visual acuity, and high-level Clairvoyance can even have special effects such as future sight or the ability to read others' thoughts.

Merlin, on the other hand, possesses three highest-level Clairvoyance skills, one of which is the EX-ranked "Eye of the World," which allows him to see through everything in the same era without going anywhere, also known as the "Eye of the Present."

According to a certain otaku who also possessed EX-ranked Clairvoyance, Merlin's eyes were like browsing all the information circulating on the network called "the world" while sitting at home. Among the three EX-ranked Clairvoyance skills, it was considered the most useless.

Of course, this otaku did not know that Merlin was the embodiment of his spiritual idol on the network, "MagiMari", who was later revealed to be Merlin in disguise.

"Um, the more I think about it, the more possible it seems." Shinji, who said that, began to look around, searching for the gaze that seemed to come from nowhere.

His strange behavior made Waver and Irisviel nervous. The former looked around like Shinji, while the latter focused her gaze on the king who had the closest relationship with Merlin.

"Saber."

"Yes, indeed, Merlin is the kind of person who would do such things. He has been punished by knights numerous times in the past for similar incidents. But don't worry, Merlin cannot leave Avalon, nor can he influence the present world."

"He's truly a perverted fellow. Assassin's Master is right; he is indeed an old rogue." Rider laughed heartily. "If you can tolerate someone like him, Saber, you're not as boring as I thought. I'm getting more and more curious about your wish."

After being led astray by Shinji, Rider finally brought the topic back to Saber.

Saber's wish was her kingship, but more importantly, it was her pride. She acknowledged that Archer, Rider, and Assassin were formidable opponents, but their philosophies were far from her own.

Archer's words were completely nonsensical. As for Rider and Assassin, she recognized their noble spirits as warriors, but ultimately, it was driven by personal desires. Compared to them, Saber believed her wish was nobler.

The King of Knights lifted her head with determination and looked directly at the three kings, speaking up.

"My wish is to save my homeland. I want to use the all-powerful Holy Grail to change the fate of Britain's destruction.

Silence once again fell upon the outdoor courtyard.

The reason for the silence was similar to a few minutes ago but subtly different.

"King of Knights, am I hearing you correctly?"

The first to speak was Rider, his face showing a puzzled expression.

"Did you just say you want to 'change fate'? In other words, you want to overturn history?"

"That's right, even if this wish cannot be realized even with a miracle if the Holy Grail is truly omnipotent, then it must..."

The atmosphere chilled due to Saber's resolute words. Assassin sighed, while Rider and Archer wore disappointed expressions.

"Saber, let me confirm. The country called Britain was destroyed in your era, during your reign."

"That's right! That's why I cannot forgive myself."

Saber felt anger at the reactions of the three, and her tone of speech became impatient.

"So that's why I feel regret, wanting to change that outcome! Because I led to such an ending..."

Suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted from the side.

It was a boisterous, disrespectful, even vulgar laughter, coming from Archer's contorted mouth.

The unbearable humiliation tinted Saber's expression with anger. Archer trampled upon the most sacred realm within her soul.

"...Archer, what's so funny about this?"

Archer completely disregarded Saber's anger, laughing uncontrollably and intermittently.

"...Self-proclaimed king... A king hailed by the people... And yet, such a person feels 'regret'? Ha! How can that not be laughable? What a masterpiece! Saber, you're the greatest clown!"

Archer laughed convulsively, unable to control himself. Rider next to him furrowed his brows, wearing an expression of displeasure rarely seen on his face as he stared at Saber.

"Wait... Hold on, King of Knights. Are you trying to deny the history you created?"

Saber had never questioned her ideals and certainly didn't expect someone to question her like this.

"That's right! What's so surprising about it? What's so funny? I held up my sword for it and offered my life, and my country was destroyed as a result. So, I feel sorrow. What's wrong with that?"

"It's not wrong to feel sorrow for the downfall of your own country, but—"

Before Scathach could finish her sigh, Archer's laughter resounded once again.

"Hey, hey, did you hear what she said, Rider? This little girl who claims to be the King of Knights... she said 'sacrificing for the country'?"

Rider remained silent for a while, ignoring Archer's incessant laughter. His troubled expression grew heavier. For Saber, Rider's silence was as humiliating as being mocked.

"What's so funny about that? As a king, it's only natural to hope for eternal prosperity for the country you govern!"

"No, you're mistaken."

Rider firmly and seriously refuted her words.

"It's not the king sacrificing for the country, but the country and its people sacrificing everything for the king. It should never be the other way around."

"What are you saying..."

Saber's voice became hoarse due to her uncontrollable anger.

"Isn't that a tyrant?"

"Exactly. It's because we are tyrants that we can be heroes."

Rider remained calm, responding peacefully.

"But Saber, if there's a ruler who feels regret for the outcome of their rule, it's just a weak ruler, worse than a tyrant."

Unlike Archer, who continued to mock Saber, Rider fundamentally denied her. Saber furrowed her brows and sharply retorted:

"Rider, aren't you the same...? The heir was killed, and the empire you painstakingly built ended up divided into four. Don't you feel any regret for such an outcome? If you had the chance to do it all over again, don't you think there could have been another way to save your homeland?"

"No."

Rider immediately answered, his chest puffed out as he met the serious gaze of the King of Knights.

"If it was this king's decision or the way of life followed by this king's subjects that ultimately led to that outcome, then destruction was inevitable. This king will mourn it and shed tears, but will never feel regret."

"How can that be?"

"Let alone overturning everything! Such foolish actions are an insult to everyone who co-created this era with this king."

Saber denied Rider's proud declaration.

"Only warriors would consider destruction as glory. The people don't think that way; they need salvation..."

"Are you saying they want the salvation of the king?"

Rider shrugged and laughed.

"I don't understand! What's the point of that?"

"That is the duty of a king!"

This time, Saber spoke loudly.

"Righteous rule, proper order. That is what all subjects expect."

"Then are you a 'righteous' slave?"

"That's fine too. Sacrificing for ideals is befitting of a king."

The young King of Knights nodded, her tone devoid of hesitation.

"The people abide by the laws and order established by the king. The king embodies not a fleeting illusion that disappears with the king but something more noble and eternal."

Looking at Saber, who remained resolute, Rider shook his head as if pitying her.

"That is not the way of 'human' life."

"Of course not. As a king, one cannot aspire to the ordinary life of common people."

To become a perfect ruler, to become the person who realizes ideals. Shedding the mortal nature of the body to gain eternal youth, forsaking personal emotions to become a complete individual. The life of the girl, Artoria, ended the moment she pulled the sword of selection from the stone. Afterward, she became a legend called the invincible, a hymn, and a phantom.

She had experienced pain and distress, but her pride surpassed them all. Her unwavering beliefs still granted her strength, supporting her hands that wielded the sword.

"Conqueror King, someone like you who only cares about themselves will never understand. You, who became a tyrant to satisfy your insatiable desires!"

Saber shouted as if delivering a fatal blow to the enemy.

Rider's eyes widened upon hearing these words.

"A king without desires or ambitions is worth less than a mere decoration!"

Rider roared, his fierce words making his already massive figure appear twice as imposing.

"Saber, you talk about 'sacrificing for ideals.' I see now, in your life, you must have been a pure and untainted saint. Surely, your image must have been lofty and inviolable. But who would hold such a treacherous path in awe and have dreams about it? Saints may be able to console the people, but they can never lead them. Only by displaying concrete desires and embracing extreme glory can one truly lead the people, lead a nation!"

After downing a cup of wine in one gulp, Rider continued to correct her.

"The so-called king must have more desires than anyone else, laugh more madly than anyone, provoke more anger than anyone, and be both pure and impure, more real than anyone. It is precisely because of this that the subjects look up to their ruler and become fascinated by the king. In the hearts of every citizen, the spark of longing to become a king themselves ignites."

"What kind of justice does such governance possess?"

"There is no justice, there is no justice in the king's path, therefore there is no regret."

Rider's words were too arbitrary, causing Saber to tremble with anger.

What truly constitutes the happiness of the people? The gap between their fundamental principles was too vast.

On one side was the prayer for stability.

On the other side was the aspiration for prosperity.

The king who sought to quell the turbulent times and the king who incited chaos—naturally, their ideals could never align.

Rider revealed a fearless smile and continued speaking.

"Oh, King of Knights, perhaps the righteousness and idealism you once upheld momentarily saved your country and subjects. That must have been a great achievement worthy of leaving your name in legends. But surely, you must also be aware of the ultimate fate of those 'rescued' individuals?"

"What... What are you saying?"

Under the twilight, the hill was dyed in blood.

That scene once again flashed through Saber's mind.

"You always 'rescue' your subjects, but you don't 'guide' them. You have never shown the 'desires of a king'. You abandon your lost subjects and pursue those petty ideals with a sacred demeanor. So, you are not a true king, just a little girl bound by the image of a king who lives not for herself, but only for others."

"I..."

She had a thousand words to refute, but every time she opened her mouth to speak, the scenery that overlooked the hills of Camelot in the past would reappear before her eyes.

The endless mountains of corpses and rivers of blood. The lives that ended there were once her subjects, friends, and loved ones.

Upon careful reflection, she had heard prophecies when she drew the sword from the stone. The prophecies foretold a future of destruction, and she should have been mentally prepared long ago.

But even with that realization.

Once she witnessed that scene with her own eyes, she couldn't help but think and pray for a different possibility.

A completely different possibility that could even overturn the magician's prophecy. She thought to herself if such a possibility existed...

A dangerous imagination emerged as if seeping into the gaps of Saber's heart.

If she didn't guard Britain as a savior, but instead ravaged it as a tyrant...

The chaos of the era would only become more chaotic due to the wars. Moreover, this was not the king's path she revered. From any perspective, this could never be the choice of the young Artoria.

However, if she truly acted in such a way, compared to the hills of Camelot, which side would be the true tragedy...

"...!"

At that moment, Saber suddenly heard the sound of something falling, pulling her consciousness back from the turmoil within her heart.

When she turned around, she found Irisviel collapsed on the ground, trembling all over.

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