Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover-Chapter 170: [] Archer’s Proposal

I'm not awake yet, I'm not awake yet, you didn't notice, right?

Maintaining a posture similar to a seated forward bend, Waver tightly closed his eyes, desperately squeezing out all his strength, trying to remain natural while not moving a muscle, fearing that the King of Heroes, whose personality was far from normal, might notice something amiss.

"Hoh, this kid looks like a fallow deer with his eyes closed."

Deer, cow, sheep, or pig... Just leave already, I can't hold on much longer!

"Archer, since he's not awake yet, let's leave it at that."

Kirei's voice came from outside the door, and for the first time, Waver felt that the annoying priest's voice was like a heavenly melody.

As he said, just leave already, you annoying Archer!

But the next moment, he fell from heaven into hell.

"No need, this king is in a good mood, so I'll wait here."

As the sound of a chair being pulled out echoed, accompanied by the clinking of armour, someone sat down and let out a comfortable sigh.

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"Watching the fallow deer struggle before death is also a form of entertainment."

...I've been discovered.

This annoying king is definitely enjoying my forced concealment of my pitiful state.

Realizing this, Waver simply opened his eyes, relaxed his body openly, and forced himself to meet the gaze of the golden Servant exuding an intimidating aura.

"Why did you capture me?"

"Instead of begging for mercy, you're questioning this king? Interesting, mongrel."

Archer stared at the stubborn-faced Waver, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Is it because, during that banquet, you stood behind the King of Conquerors? This king didn't notice the filth undergoing transformation within you."

"Transforming... filth?"

"You haven't realized it yet, mongrel."

Gilgamesh said matter-of-factly.

"To put it in this king's terms, when I met you at the warehouse street, you were as disgusting as any ordinary mongrel. But now, although you still stink, at least it's not to the point where this king would crush you like an ant."

"Eek!"

Stimulated by Gilgamesh's killing intent, Waver instinctively shivered, wanting to avoid his gaze but forcibly stopping his eyes from moving.

If I avert my gaze, I'll die.

Every cell, every nerve in his body sent out this warning, causing the apprentice magus to not even dare to blink, only recalling the resentment and anger in his heart and pouring it into his gaze.

To the oldest King of Heroes, this kind of defiant gaze might indeed be as amusing as a fallow deer wary of a hunter, causing him to slap his thigh and laugh heartily.

"Interesting, interesting. Besides Kirei, there's actually another toy worth entertaining. In that case, this king has no need for other thoughts—hey, mongrel, are you interested in becoming my Master?"

"...What?"

The hostility in his eyes instantly dissipated, replaced by utter astonishment and confusion. Waver looked at the Archer before him, one of the top Servants in this Holy Grail War, and blurted out.

"Aren't you contracted with Kirei Kotomine?"

"Oh, you figured that out just from our conversation? Is it because you woke up too early, or is your talent finally showing?"

Archer said casually, not giving Waver time to think.

"Don't worry about this king. This king naturally has ways to break and form contracts. So, have you thought about it? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With this king, the Holy Grail is as good as yours."

"No, thank you."

"...Perhaps this king misheard."

Gilgamesh's handsome face darkened as he stared at the trembling Master, his eyes filled with intimidation.

"Let this king mercifully ask again—will you form a contract with this king?"

The pressure from a top-tier Heroic Spirit was like a tidal wave, a hurricane, churning Waver's mind into chaos. Reason, emotion, all were thrown to the winds, impossible to grasp.

Yet even so, Waver tightly held onto the thread of 'reason.' Drenched in sweat, gasping for breath, he answered.

"To be honest, as a Master, no one would refuse a Servant like you—even I can see that you haven't been using your full power, just playing around in this Holy Grail War. If you got serious, you could end the Holy Grail War effortlessly."

Pausing, Waver didn't add the phrase 'just like Sakatsuki' to his sentence.

Speaking with this capricious king, Waver was genuinely thankful that he was just a commoner, and this wasn't the era before the Glorious Revolution.

"Then who gave you the courage to refuse this king's command!"

Gilgamesh frowned, his expression turning even more ferocious.

"Are you saying you want to haggle with this king like those mongrels in the market?"

"No, Archer, King of Heroes."

Waver shook his head.

"It's just that I already have a Servant I can entrust myself to, that's all."

"Would you allow me to board your flying ship? As a Master?"

"Would you suppress your desire to battle heroes for my sake?"

"Would you introduce me to your comrades, your close friends? Even if I forcibly dragged them from their slumber, even if my qualifications as a Master are completely inadequate?"

"No, King of Heroes, you couldn't do that—but I know someone who can."

Even in this perilous situation, Waver smiled, his eyes dim yet sparkling with a glimmer of light.

"That is my one and only Servant. Even if I'm a failure as a magus, at least I can strive to follow in his footsteps. In this Holy Grail War, I will only use my Command Spells for him."

What a... detestable mongrel.

Gilgamesh looked at Waver, who had forgotten his danger and was passionately expressing his thoughts, as if merely mentioning that man's name gave him infinite strength.

The King of Conquerors, Iskandar.

Gilgamesh acknowledged that man's extraordinary charisma, but being overshadowed for such a reason still greatly displeased the arrogant king, filling him with killing intent.

But he continued to gaze into the eyes of this weak Master, watching as they gradually brightened, like stars.

The emotions contained within... he had experienced them too.

Even in this spiritual body, it still stirred with memories of that time.

That dazzling yet illusory person, the one who disappeared from my embrace...

At the moment you vanished from my arms, did my eyes also reflect the same starry river?

The killing intent in his heart dissipated like dust, and the ancient king turned and left without a word, brushing past Kirei, who was silently waiting at the door.

"Failed, Archer?"

"Hmph, such a mongrel isn't even fit to clean this king's chambers."

The King of Heroes snorted.

"Besides, the King of Conquerors is my prey. Using his Master to defeat him would be an insult to both him and me, Kirei."

You were quite enthusiastic about it earlier... Kirei thought to himself, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Then, let's activate the backup plan."

"Do as you wish, I only care about the results."

The golden Heroic Spirit waved his hand impatiently, his back to Kirei.

Having received Archer's promise, Kirei finally smiled, looking at the immobilized Waver in the room and clapping his hands.

The skylight opened, and the water pressed against the window rushed in, pouring down and drenching the unprepared Waver.

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

Ignoring him, Kirei continued.

"Initially, I wanted to tempt Rider's Master into joining Archer to cut off Rider's head, then appear when he was filled with the joy of obtaining the Holy Grail, letting him die in regret and despair."

"However, I didn't expect Rider's Master to be so resolute, and the king to show mercy by not killing him outright—but it's fine, the reverse works just as well."

"When Rider, having lost his Master, struggles through our 'obstacles' and breaks into this sealed room, only to find his Master's corpse, what expression will that self-proclaimed king show? Heh... just thinking about it fills me with anticipation."

Staring at Kirei's eerie smile, as the sealed door slowly closed, Waver felt the water level rapidly rise to his ankles. Clenching his teeth, he once again reached for the sole of his shoe—

Outside the sealed room, sudden noises erupted, accompanied by a familiar, bold shout.

"Waver! Where are you, boy? I've come to save you! AAAALaLaLaLaLaie!"

***

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