"Hmph, your words are a bit too arrogant, mongrel." Goldie stared at Meruem with those ruby-like eyes as he spoke.
Although he had been startled by Meruem's sudden outburst of aura earlier, causing him to remain silent for a while—which made him lose face considerably—that wasn't the most unacceptable thing.
It was because the feeling Meruem gave him just now reminded him of a past he didn't want to recall.
Because Meruem reminded him of everything he feared and loathed: those high and mighty gods.
This was the suppression of the God-slayer attribute against a Heroic Spirit possessing divinity. Regardless of whether Goldie's divinity had dropped from A to B due to his hatred of gods, as long as he possessed divinity, he would be comprehensively suppressed by Meruem's God-slayer attribute.
Contrary to his appearance of fearing nothing, a large part of Gilgamesh's arrogance stemmed from inner insecurity. He had witnessed the death of his only best friend, Enkidu, but dared not resist the gods who caused that tragedy. So he merely loathed the gods and even the divine blood within himself, yet he dared not rebel against them. Because of his friend's death, he feared mortality and sought the herb of immortality, only for it to be stolen by a snake in the end.
Hmph, the so-called Heroic Spirit closest to the spirits (meaning gods)... If the histories of the Conqueror King and Artoria could still garner some acknowledgement from Meruem, then Gilgamesh's history made Meruem disdain him to the extreme. Without Enkidu's existence, he wouldn't even be qualified to be called a king. Look at his deeds before Enkidu appeared: he committed all sorts of evil. Relying on his power, he seized men and women, forcing the city's residents to build walls and construct temples. That style was no different from a local bully.
He acknowledged Enkidu as his best friend, yet watched helplessly as his friend died before him without acting, and in the end, he was actually afraid? Look at what Gilgamesh did after obtaining the herb of immortality and having it stolen by a snake: "Having lost immortality, he lamented endlessly and left this world."
Meruem didn't even have the slightest intention of answering Goldie, which made Goldie's expression turn increasingly ugly.
"Then KING, does that mean you support the King of Knights' view? The benevolent way of living and sacrificing for the people?" The Conqueror King looked at Meruem after a moment of silence.
"No, my situation is different from yours." Meruem's decisive refusal surprised everyone. "My Kingly Way... is actually similar to your Hegemonic Way."
Hearing this, the Conqueror King felt a bit depressed, and his expression became increasingly bitter.
Aren't you just stirring up trouble?
"It's just that, as an ordinary person, I once yearned for a king like King Arthur," Meruem muttered to himself. A fair, just, beautiful, and righteous person—isn't that what everyone yearns for? But that is just a yearning.
As ordinary citizens, most people prefer a king who can bring them a stable life and happiness, rather than a Tyrant or a Hegemon—though admittedly, conquering other countries might bring them more benefits later.
"Then tell us about your Kingly Way, KING." Even so, the Conqueror King wanted to hear Meruem's Kingly Way.
Actually, as a king, I am not qualified. My subordinates followed me more out of fear. I don't have the Conqueror King's soaring grandeur, nor do I have King Arthur's personal charisma. Actually, I am very similar to Gilgamesh and Frieza. If it were the original Ant King from the Hunter x Hunter world, and if he could survive the certain-death Miniature Rose bomb...
Perhaps he would be more excellent than I am.
After all, in my past life, I was just an ordinary person among the masses.
But I am me.
The living me.
"But before that, shouldn't we greet the uninvited guests?" Along with Meruem's voice, dozens of dark figures wearing tight black clothes and skull masks appeared right on cue, surrounding the seated group.
Assassin.
Except for Meruem and the Conqueror King, everyone present changed their expression.
When Goldie saw this, his pupils constricted slightly. Tokiomi, you have some nerve.
This was the last fatal mistake Tokiomi Tohsaka made. He treated Gilgamesh with the etiquette of a subject at the start, but he did not follow the way of a subject.
Especially at such a significant moment, to not even notify Goldie. No matter how laughable this "Holy Grail Dialogue" might be, this was, after all, a banquet established by a King. How much disrespect must one have to do such a thing?
For such a disobedient subject.
If you were the King, what would you do?
"Goldie, did you plan this?" Even at a time like this, the Conqueror King spoke calmly to Goldie sitting opposite him.
"Who knows. I don't need to understand the thoughts of those mongrels." Although he said this, Goldie's expression was already terrible.
Tokiomi's behavior was tantamount to smearing soot on Goldie's face.
Especially since Goldie wasn't happy during this banquet to begin with.
"Why... why are there so many Assassins?" As the mascot, Waver was frightened by the number of Assassins. Although he had guessed there was more than one Assassin, he didn't expect there to be this many.
Assassin, the Old Man of the Mountain. Strictly speaking, he counts as a type of king too; the King of Assassins is still a king. He is qualified to participate in this drinking party.
"Big—Conqueror King, hey, hey." Waver shouted extremely uneasily at the Conqueror King.
"Hey, hey, kid, don't be so pathetic. It's just guests at the banquet. How one treats guests attending the banquet also shows the caliber of a King." The Conqueror King once again downed the fine wine in his cup in one gulp and spoke with composure.
"You want to invite even these lackeys to join the table? Conqueror King." It was no wonder Goldie viewed them this way. Even if they were Assassins, they were supposed to be leaders, yet they were so obedient, executing their Master's orders meticulously. The Holy Grail rules didn't mention this item.
"Of course. A King's words should be heard by all. Since someone came specifically to listen, it doesn't matter if they are enemies or friends." The Conqueror King ladled a scoop of red wine from that exquisite golden cup and, like a fool, offered it toward the Assassins.
"Come, don't be shy. If you want to drink together, come get a cup yourself. This wine is one with your blood."
Goldie's meaning was: You are using my wine right now.
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