The banquet was held by the flower bed in the atrium of the castle. Last night's battle didn't spill over here, and it didn't look shabby for hospitality. 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 Phil sat side by side with Webb, Shirou and the others, guessing how the situation would unfold, and realizing that it meant a temporary truce, and that he would just have to watch.

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

"It's a strange shape, but it's a unique sake vessel in 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 receive 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 that selects the one who is qualified is this war that is being fought in Fuyuki - but if you just watch from the sidelines, 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.

Saber's thin body will always make people worry about whether she can really drink, but looking at her boldness in drinking, she is not inferior to the giant Rider. Seeing this, Rider let out a pleasant compliment.

"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 the 'king', but in this case, it is better not to call it the 'Holy Grail War', but the 'Holy Grail Q&A'...... In the end, who among the knights and conquerors will be the 'King of the Holy Grail'? 」

Rider changed his serious tone and laughed mischievously. Then he spoke as if to himself.

"Ah, there is a man here who claims to be a king. 」

"—the joke ends here, mongrel. 」

As if in response to Rider's unincomprehensible words, a dazzling golden light flashed in front of everyone.

The sound and light caused Saber and Alice Field's bodies to stiffen immediately, and Shirou reacted in surprise.

"Why is that guy ......!?"

"Archer, why are you here......

Saber asked, and it was Rider who answered her.

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

Archer, dressed in armor, stared proudly at Rider with ruby eyes.

"It's really a shame that you chose such a shabby place to hold a banquet, so that's all you need. Why do you apologize for causing me to come here?"

"Don't say that, come on, have a drink first. 」

Rider smiled and handed the spoon full of wine to Archer.

He thought he would be annoyed by Rider's attitude, but instead he simply took the spoon and drank the wine inside.

Alice Phil remembered what Saber had called "the challenge" earlier.

Archer, the unknown Golden Hero, could not have refused the wine handed by Rider since he claimed to be "King".

"—What kind of bad wine is this, and you actually use this wine to fight between heroes?"

Archer said with a look of disgust.

"Yes, I bought it from the market here, it's a good wine. 」

"Think that because you don't know anything about wine, you bastard. 」

A vortex of imaginary space appeared around Archer, who scoffed. It was a precursor to the strange phenomenon that could summon the treasure, and Webber and Alice Fell felt only a chill in their bodies, but Illya's eyes lit up and they watched intently.

— but tonight Archer was surrounded not by Equipment, but by a series of drinking utensils encrusted with dazzling gemstones. The heavy gold bottle was filled with a colorless, clear liquid.

"Look, this is the King's Wine. 」

"Oh, that's so impressive. 」

Rider didn't mind Archer's tone and happily poured the new wine into three glasses.

Saber was still quite wary of the unknown Archer, and she looked at the wine in the golden bottle with some hesitation, but took the glass that was handed her.

"Oh, delicious!!"

Rider took a sip and immediately widened his eyes in praise. Even Saber was piqued with curiosity. Originally, this was not a competition to see who was more decent, but a competition with wine.

As the wine flowed into her throat, Saber felt a strong swelling sensation in her head. This is indeed a good wine she has never tasted, strong and pure, mellow and refreshing, with a strong fragrance filling the nasal cavity, and the whole person has a sense of drift.

"Great, this is definitely not a human wine, it is a god who drank it!"

Looking at Rider who did not hesitate to praise him, Archer smiled leisurely. At some point, he sat down and shook the glass in his hand contentedly.

"Of course, whether it's wine or sword, I have only the best in my treasure trove—that's the king's taste. 」

"What are you kidding, Archer. 」

Saber yelled. The calm began to be shattered by a tense atmosphere.

"I'm annoyed to hear you boast about your wine, you don't look like a king, but like a clown. 」

Archer scoffed at Saber, who smelled of gunpowder.

"It's not like words, a guy who doesn't even understand wine is not worthy of being a king. 」

"Alright, you two are boring. 」

Rider smiled wryly and gestured to Saber, who was still about to say something, then turned his head to continue the previous conversation.

"Archer, the best of your wine can only be matched by the cup of the most precious - but alas, the Holy Grail is not for wine. Now we're going to have a Grail Q&A to see if each other qualifies for the Holy Grail, and first you have to tell us why you want the Holy Grail. Archer, find a way to convince us that you are worthy of the Holy Grail, Archer. 」

"I can't stand you. First of all, we are going to 'fight' for the Holy Grail, and your question is far from that premise. 」

"Huh?"

Seeing Rider raise an eyebrow in surprise, Archer sighed helplessly.

"It was supposed to be my belonging. All the treasures in the world originated from my collection, but because it was a long time later, it was lost from my treasury, but its owner is still me. 」

"So you're saying you ever had the Holy Grail, and you know what it is?"

"Nope. 」

Archer faintly dismissed Rider's question.

"It's not something you can understand. The total amount of my possessions is even beyond my own knowledge, but as long as it is a 'treasure', then it must belong to me, that is clear. It's a little self-aware that you want to take my treasure by force. 」

Now it was Saber's turn to be speechless.

"Your words are similar to Caster's, and it seems that he's not the only deranged Servant. 」

"Hey, what do you say? 」

Unlike Saber, Rider muttered as if in response. At some point, he picked up the bottle and poured it into the glass without mind.

"Speaking of which, I think I still know your real name. There should be only one man who is more proud than Iskander. 」

Alice Fell and Webb immediately listened intently, but Rider changed the subject.

"So Archer, so if you nod yes, then we can get the Holy Grail?"

"Of course, but I have no reason to reward rats like you. 」

"Can't you bear it?"

"Of course not, I reward only my men and people. 」

Archer smiled mockingly at Rider.

"Or Rider, if you're willing to surrender to me, I'll give you a cup or two. 」

「…… Ah, that can't be done. 」

Rider scratched his chin, as if sensing that the other party's conditions were too high, so he simply turned his head.

"But Archer, it doesn't matter if you have a Holy Grail or not, and you don't fight for the Holy Grail to fulfill any wishes. 」

"Of course. But I can't spare the guy who took my treasure, it's a matter of principle. 」

"That is—"

Rider drained the glass of wine.

"What is that, is there any reason for this?"

"It's the law. 」

Archer replied immediately.

"The law that I have made as king. 」

"Hmm. 」

Rider seemed to understand his words and sighed deeply.

"What a perfect king, able to carry out the laws he has set. But ah, I still want the Holy Grail, and I just grab it if I want it, because I'm the king of conquest. 」

"Not necessarily. As long as you come to commit it, I can sanction it, and there is no room for negotiation. 」

"Then we'll only see you on the battlefield. 」

Archer nodded at the same time as Rider with a serious expression.

"—But Archer, let's have a drink anyway, and we'll talk about the fight later. 」

"Unless, of course, you don't like the wine I brought. 」

"What are you kidding, how can I not drink the wine. 」

……