Time passed, and finally, the appointed hour arrived...
The gates swung open, and Irisviel with Saber were the first to enter Samuel's mansion.
"Welcome!"
Samuel and Roman sat casually on the doorstep, waving half-heartedly.
Saber's gaze swept over them, frowning at their informal sprawl. "King Solomon, is this how you treat guests?"
Samuel had invited them, and while they didn't expect grandeur, basic courtesy was due.
Scanning the courtyard, she saw no preparations—not even a chair.
Though she felt an inexplicable draw to Samuel, his disregard irked her.
"Saber!"
Irisviel tugged at her, trying to stop her from saying more, fully aware of the vast gap between them.
"My apologies! The banquet is ready, but please wait here briefly."
Samuel smiled, summoning a stone bench beside Saber and Irisviel with a wave.
"We'll enter once all guests arrive."
His smile was warm, but his tone firm—not a discussion, but a decree.
"..."
Saber frowned again, about to speak, but Irisviel pulled her to sit.
Then...
The clear night sky flashed with lightning, followed by booming thunder.
Amid this spectacle, the only war chariot in this Holy Grail War appeared—iskandar's, landing with a flamboyant spin.
"Not late, am I? King Solomon, King of Knights!"
Iskandar's hearty shout rang out.
"Hey, land slower!"
Waver whined like a scolded child.
"Hahaha!"
Iskandar laughed boisterously, lifting Waver and leaping from the chariot.
He turned to Samuel...
"Yo, King Solomon's Master, we meet again."
Samuel nodded with a smile, acknowledging him.
A fiery meteor streaked into the courtyard—Karna, carrying a red-haired woman in a princess hold.
"Yo, Lancer! That your Master?"
Iskandar greeted warmly.
"No, Lady Sola is my Master's fiancée. Truth be told, my Master's missing—even the Grail's system can't locate him."
Karna set Sola down, a wry smile on his face. Losing his Master so early in the war was embarrassing.
"Oh? That's Sola? Kayneth's gone? Interesting!"
Reines emerged from the mansion, glancing at Sola beside Karna, a delighted grin spreading.
As an El-Melloi from the "Archisorte" branch, Reines knew the main family's Kayneth and his fiancée, Sola.
Of course, the arrogant Kayneth didn't know her, a talented younger relative, so Sola only found her vaguely familiar, giving her a second glance.
Behind Reines followed Jeanne, clad in a distinctly Japanese-style maid outfit.
Jeanne's face flushed, holding a tray, instinctively tugging at her skirt. Though similar to her battle armor, it carried an odd shame.
The outfit, woven with special material, bore powerful magecraft—only its caster could see it; others saw only Imaginary Number Space.
"Ruler?"
Iskandar called out, surprised.
"...Didn't expect to meet like this..."
Jeanne said with a bitter smile.
Suddenly...
Kingu appeared beside Samuel, her expression grave. She glanced at the gate and whispered, "Father... he's here!"
Two men pushed open the Matou mansion's gates, a dark whirlwind forming two armored Heroic Spirits behind them.
Assassin and Berserker!
Tokiomi Tohsaka, borrowing Assassin from his disciple, arrived with Kariya Matou and Berserker.
"Hm... everyone's here, then..."
"I request to see the Matou head!"
Tokiomi, stripped of his usual elegance, eyes red and beast-like, demanded with a feral edge.
Yet, habit compelled him to declare formally.
"Zouken Matou is dead. If you're looking for the Matou head, Kariya Matou beside you is it..."
Samuel said casually.
"What?"
Tokiomi's face froze. He'd anticipated a refusal leading to a fight or Zouken yielding. But dead? Unthinkable.
Kariya, cold and dismissive, said, "Impossible. That old thing's nothing special, but he'd never die. His escape skills are unmatched. You're lying!"
"Unmatched? Did you forget your brain in the laundry, and it got boiled? Him?"
Samuel looked at Kariya like he was an idiot.
"You—"
"He's not lying. He has no need to. If he wished, we'd all be dead in a split-second's countless divisions!"
Assassin's ancient voice spoke chilling truths.
"Then... what about Sakura? Where's Sakura?"
Kariya's face crumbled. His driving purpose collapsed, plunging him into absolute confusion about his own meaning.
"Oh, upstairs sleeping. It's nine o'clock—bedtime!"
"..."
Kariya's expression blanked. Sakura's safety was good news, but his struggles and pain suddenly seemed meaningless, leaving him adrift.
Oddly, though Samuel was a stranger, Kariya didn't question him again. Perhaps, as Assassin said...
If Samuel willed it, they'd all be instantly slain!
"Kariya..."
Tokiomi gently patted Kariya's shoulder, trying to comfort him.
Samuel ignored them. With all guests present, it was time for the banquet—the one deciding if blood would still flow.
***
If you enjoyed this story, don't forget to drop 5 stars and your power stone. And if you want to read more than 70 chapters in advance, feel free to visit: pat reon . com / KangTL