Darkness fell on the Einzberen Forest, and it seemed that there was a great battle here yesterday.

At this moment, Saber is standing on the castle looking into the distance, Alice Phil is looking after the injured Maiya Kuyu, and Emiya Kiritsugu has left here to find the location of Lancer's master, Kenneth, in the city's stronghold.

Suddenly, a roar rang in her ears. Not only that, but the night-tearing roar also took a huge toll on her magic circuit, and the dizziness almost knocked Alice Fell to the ground.

The roar came from close thunder, and the ensuing blast of mana meant that the barrier in the forest outside the city had been attacked. Although the enchantment is not something that is so easy to destroy, the spell has been destroyed.

"What's going on・・・・・・ head-on breakout?"

A pair of strong arms held Alice Phil's shoulders, which were Saber's arms that appeared beside her for the first time after noticing the mutation.

"Are you alright? Alice Phil. ”

"Well, just a surprise. I didn't expect such a mess of guests to visit. ”

"I'll go out and meet it, you stay by my side. ”

Alice Fell nodded. Staying with Saber, who was on her way to meet her, meant that she had to face the enemy herself. But the battlefield is the safest place for Alice Phil, because the strongest Servant is right next to her.

Alice Phil quickened her pace to follow Saber, and the two of them sped across the castle, aiming for the terrace outside the entrance.

"The thunder just now, and this unscrupulous tactic・・・・・・ the other party should be Rider. ”

"I think so. ”

Alice Phil recalls the Noble Phantasm [Kamui Wheel] she witnessed on the beach a few days ago, and once the Noble Phantasm unleashes its full power, it is afraid that it can easily destroy the magic array set up in the forest. It would have been nice if the barrier had been intact, but due to the scuffle a few days ago, the barrier has not recovered from the damage it was inflicted at that time.

"Hey, Knight King, I'm here to meet you, come out, huh?"

The voice came from the hall, and it seemed that the other party had already stepped through the main entrance. There was no doubt that the enemy was Iskandar, the king of conquest, and listening to his hearty shout, it did not look like a warrior about to fight.

Alice Fell and Saber finally made their way down the hallway to the terrace・・・・・・ but they didn't know what to say when they saw the enemy Servant standing tall in the hall.

"Yo, Saber. When I heard about the castle, I wanted to come and see it, and it's a really nice place. ”

Rider grinned unashamedly and bared his teeth, and then he moved his neck in a deliberate manner.

"There are too many trees in the yard, it's too inconvenient to get in and out, and I almost got lost before I got to the city gate, so I cut some for you, thank me." The view has become much better. ”

"Rider, you ・・・・・・"

Saber snapped, but she didn't know what to say in the face of this inexplicable enemy. Rider said with a surprised frown.

"Hey Knight King, aren't you going to change into a modern outfit tonight? ”

Webber half-hid behind Rider's massive frame, looking up at Alice Phil with a look on his face that was hostile or terrified.

What made them even more strange was that Rider had not a weapon or anything else used in combat, but a barrel.

No matter how you look at it, it's a wooden wine bottle. Rider, who easily clipped the sake bottle under his arm, is like a sake brewery owner who has come to make a delivery.

"You ・・・・・・"

Saber took a deep breath and said calmly.

"Rider, what are you doing here?"

"I still don't understand, I'm going to drink with you. Hey, don't be there, lead the way, is there a suitable courtyard for a banquet?"

Saber sighed helplessly, and the anger that had been stored in his chest was gone. Looking at this seemingly innocent opponent, she couldn't maintain her fighting spirit.

"Alice Phil, what should I do?"

Alice Phil was similarly confused.

She was angry at the destruction of the forest's barrier before, but after seeing that grinning face, she couldn't hate it anyway.

"He's not the kind of person who sets traps, does he really want to drink?"

Rider has said that he will wait for Saber and Lancer to decide between them. Keeping the pride and self-esteem of the Heroic Spirit, his sudden appearance tonight is really incomprehensible.

"No, it's a challenge. ”

Saber, who should have lost his will to fight, became serious for some reason at the moment.

"Challenge?"

"Yes・・・・・・ I am the king, and he is also the king. If you want to divide the high and low at the wine table, it is equivalent to a bloodless 'battle'. ”

Perhaps hearing Saber's words, the King of Conquest smiled and nodded.

"Hehe, it's good to understand. Since you can't fight each other with swords, let's use wine to fight it out. Knight King, I won't let you go tonight, get ready. ”

"Interesting. I accept. ”

Saber resolutely responded, exuding a fighting spirit as if he were on the battlefield. Only now does Alice Phil realize that this is not a joke, but a real "fight".

The banquet was held by the flower bed in the atrium of the castle. It is not shabby to entertain guests. At this point, no one cared about the cold outside.

Rider led the decanter to the atrium, and the two Servants sat down face-to-face and confronted each other. Alice Fell and Webber sat side by side, guessing at the development of the situation, realizing that it meant a temporary truce, and that he would just have to watch from the sidelines.

Rider smashed the lid of the barrel with his fist, and the mellow aroma of red wine filled the air in the atrium.

"Although it has a strange shape, it is a sake vessel unique to this country. ”

Rider said as he triumphantly slapped the wine with a bamboo handle. Unfortunately, no one on the spot could point out his common-sense mistake.

Rider took a sip of the wine from the spoon before speaking.

"I've heard that only those who are qualified can get the Holy Grail. ”

The serious tone calmed the surrounding atmosphere. This man actually spoke in such a tone, and he always felt that something was wrong.

"And the ritual of selecting the qualified person is this war that is fought in Fuyuki. But if it's just a spectator, then there is no need to shed blood. If we can recognize each other's abilities, then I don't need to talk about it. ”

Saber didn't hesitate to take the handle from Rider and scooped a spoonful of wine as well.

"So, first of all, you're going to see who is better than me? Rider. ”

"Exactly, there is a real contest in the name of [King], but in this case, it is not called [Holy Grail War], it is better to call it [Holy Grail Q&A], right?"

"That's the end of the joke, mongrel. ”

At the same time, a dazzling golden light flashed in front of everyone.

The sound and the light caused Saber and Alice Phil's bodies to stiffen instantly.

"Archer, why are you here?"

Saber asked, and it was Rider who answered her.

"Ah, I asked him to drink when I saw him on the street, but he was still late, Glitter. But unlike me, he walks on foot, so I can't blame him. ”

Rider frowned.

"But why is he late?"

"Him?"

At this moment, a figure fell from the sky, it was Shirai Moon who flew over.

"I've been here a long time ago, but as a guest, I have to pay the most basic respect to the provider of the banquet venue, how could you break in like this. ”

"Haha. ”

Rider just laughed at Shirai's question.