Campione: Strongest Godslayer!

~ Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!

<><><><>

Saber's emerald eyes, filled with an unwavering conviction, met Haru's gaze.

"I wish to save my kingdom. I wish to change Britain's fate."

A heavy silence fell over the courtyard after Saber's declaration. Kiyohime and Hassan, not being kings themselves, remained indifferent.

But Gilgamesh and Rider—their faces were masks of shock, as if they'd misheard her.

Haru, though he'd already known her wish, looked at Saber, her beautiful face etched with a desperate longing, and felt a pang of pity. He remained silent.

Saber, confused by his reaction, frowned. Her wish, though perhaps unexpected, was straightforward. Surely, it warranted some kind of response—praise or criticism. But no one spoke.

"D-did I hear that correctly, King of Knights?" Rider, his voice filled with disbelief, finally broke the silence. "You wish to change fate? To alter history itself?"

Saber's gaze shifted to Rider. She nodded. "Indeed. No matter how difficult, the Grail, with its power, can grant any wish."

"So, the fall of Britain—that happened during your reign? While you were king?" Rider stared at her, his eyes wide with shock.

"Yes. And I cannot forgive myself. It was my fault—my failures that led to my kingdom's destruction. I regret it. Deeply." Saber's voice was firm, her resolve unwavering.

"hahaha... cough…" Gilgamesh's laughter, sharp and mocking, echoed through the courtyard.

The sound, more insulting than any words, made Saber's blood boil. To have her most cherished desire, her deepest regret, mocked like this—"What's so amusing, King of Heroes?" she growled, her teeth gritted.

Gilgamesh, ignoring Saber's anger, clutched her stomach, her laughter subsiding. "A king revered by their people... their name etched in history—and you regret? Ha! How laughable. A hero's banquet—it always attracts a few clowns. And you, Saber, are the most amusing of them all."

To Gilgamesh, Saber's regret was absurd. A king, a legend, admired and celebrated throughout history, someone who'd achieved what most could only dream of—regretting the fall of her kingdom?

Empires rose and fell. It was the natural order of things. A king who clung to such sentimental notions—was a fool.

"You would—deny the history you created?" Rider asked, his brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on Saber.

Saber, her conviction unwavering, nodded. "Indeed. Is that so surprising? So amusing? I was a king, and my kingdom fell. I mourn its loss. Is that wrong?"

Gilgamesh burst into laughter again, her body shaking.

"I-I can't breathe... Haru, this King of Knights—she-she regrets serving her country?"

"There's nothing wrong with that," Haru said, his voice calm, his chin resting on his hand.

"Hmm?" Gilgamesh's laughter ceased, her expression shifting to one of confusion.

"Are you agreeing with her, Yahweh-sama? Condoning her self-pity?" Rider asked, his voice laced with disbelief. For Yahweh—the God of the Bible—God of Gods, who denied the legitimacy of any other God, to agree with Saber's human sentiment—it was unexpected.

"The King of Knights is a knight first, and a king second. Self-sacrifice for one's country—it's a knight's duty. There's nothing wrong with that," Haru replied with a smile.

Saber nodded, her voice firm. "Indeed. A king should be willing to sacrifice everything for their people, for their kingdom's prosperity."

"No. You're mistaken. Yahweh-sama's words apply to a knight, not a king. A king's duty is different," Rider said, his voice deep and resonant, a king's authority in every word.

"A knight may sacrifice themselves for their country, but a king cannot. It is the country, the people, who sacrifice for their king. Do not confuse the two."

Gilgamesh nodded in agreement, her eyes fixed on Saber, a spark of interest in them.

"What?!" Saber, unable to contain her anger any longer, her voice rising, "That's tyranny! Both of you, Iskandar and Gilgamesh, your way of ruling—it's wrong!"

"Perhaps. But we are both kings and heroes," Rider replied calmly, acknowledging her criticism without a trace of shame.

"And Saber, if a king regrets their reign, their decisions—then they were a poor king, worse than a tyrant."

Rider's words struck a nerve. Saber's brow furrowed, and her voice, sharp with indignation, echoed through the courtyard. "Iskandar, your empire—it was divided into four kingdoms after your death. Do you not regret that? Do you not wish to—change it, to save your kingdom?"

"No."

Rider's answer was immediate, his voice firm, his eyes meeting Saber's, his expression unwavering.

"If my decisions, and the actions of my people, led to that outcome, then it was inevitable. I may mourn it. I may shed tears. But I will not regret it."

"How…" Saber stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. They were both kings whose kingdoms had fallen after their deaths, yet Rider's lack of regret—it was unfathomable.

"And I would never seek to change it! To alter history would be an insult to those who lived in my time, to the legacy I built."

"That's your perspective. The people—they would disagree. They would choose to be saved," Saber retorted, her voice filled with a quiet conviction.

"Enough," Haru said, interrupting their debate. He picked up the golden flask and refilled their goblets, then spoke, his voice calm.

<><><><>

Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters. Ahead of the rest!

https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx

(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)

There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available on my Patreon!