[—That voice, piercing deep into my heart, echoes like unending cheers.]
...
...
Tohsaka Residence
A golden figure lounged lazily on a plush sofa. Gilgamesh, savoring Tokiomi's prized vintage wine, fixed his crimson eyes on the weary young priest before him. A sly smile curled his lips, like a viper flicking its tongue, as he spoke slowly.
"So, Kirei, what do you make of this fiasco?"
"Hm?"
Hearing Gilgamesh's call, Kirei Kotomine, exhausted from a night of cleanup, glanced at him wearily.
"What do you mean, Archer?"
Kirei settled into his seat, flipping through compensation documents and reprimands from his father, Risei Kotomine. The night had been a whirlwind—rushing between Fuyuki's city hall, police station, and Church reports, plus fieldwork to ensure no loose ends. Like a spun-top, he couldn't stop, with disaster reports still piling up.
For a moment, Kirei missed his overlooked Assassin. With his cloning and versatile skills, these tasks would've been done in an hour. But that was meaningless now.
Assassin was confirmed out of the War.
"What do I mean? You know exactly, Kirei."
Seeing Kirei's feigned confusion, Gilgamesh swirled his wine glass, chuckling lightly. His crimson eyes locked onto Kirei as he continued, "You warned Tokiomi against allying with the Einzberns—they're untrustworthy. You urged him not to send all of Assassin to the scene, to avoid mishaps, keeping some for intelligence. But what did Tokiomi do?"
"…"
Kirei didn't answer.
The truth was clear: Tokiomi had stumbled into every pitfall, leading to this dire situation.
"Because of Tokiomi's arrogance, he ignored your advice, thinking he could control everything. He allied with the Einzberns and forced you to use a Command Seal to make Assassin unleash their Noble Phantasm in a frontal assault."
"You saw the result: Assassin wiped out, your key intelligence source lost, and you've angered the other four Servants' factions, making you public enemy number one. How do you rate Tokiomi's performance, Kirei?"
Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes, downing his wine, his expression carrying an indescribable weight.
"I… I don't know. But the professor was just worried about unforeseen accidents…"
Kirei lowered his head, answering after a pause.
"Oh? You really think that, Kirei?"
Gilgamesh raised a brow, his crimson gaze piercing. "Don't fool yourself. That's just an excuse. Unlike you, a seasoned Executor who's faced life-and-death battles, Tokiomi is a pure mage. Forget combat—he likely has no fighting experience. That's why he made such a suffocatingly stupid decision."
"Assassin's true name is Hundred-Faced Hassan. Weak in direct combat, but undeniably the best for intelligence and assassination. With me, the ultimate trump card, using those Assassins to gather intel and strike strategically—diverting conflict elsewhere—would've been optimal."
"Even if the Einzberns knew of Assassin, how could they know their numbers? Leak a few flaws, wait for enemies to fight or lower their guard, and those Assassins could've been pivotal."
Gilgamesh sipped his wine, analyzing the situation methodically.
"But that fool Tokiomi sent such useful scouting and assassination units to a frontal assault. Don't you feel his incompetence and arrogance, Kirei?"
"You were watching the whole time?"
Kirei's expression shifted to surprise at Gilgamesh's analysis.
He hadn't expected the haughty, self-proclaimed greatest king to observe their situation so closely, pinpointing every flaw.
Could it be…
A bold possibility struck Kirei.
He looked at Gilgamesh, about to ask, but the king spoke first. "Yes, you're right, Kirei. I was there—during your Einzbern alliance talks and when you sent all Assassins to attack the other Masters."
So it was true…
Kirei's guess was correct, but…
He looked at Gilgamesh, confusion growing. If he was there and saw the flaws, why didn't he intervene? His involvement could've prevented this mess.
With Gilgamesh's power, even against Iskandar and Fionn, they could've eliminated the enemy.
Why, then, did he just watch?
Kirei's gaze deepened with questions.
"Heh, wondering why I didn't act?"
"Yes."
"Simple, Kirei. Knowing and doing are different. What's the point of understanding? Or not? Humans blindly follow their chosen paths. Stop them, and they won't thank you—they'll think their way would've been better and might even resent you."
Gilgamesh's eyes narrowed, casually sharing his philosophy.
"So, Kirei, unlike that fool Tokiomi, I don't believe you missed these obvious issues, yet you didn't stop him. That surprised me. But… seeing your lost expression, I can guess your thoughts."
"You wanted to see what happens when Tokiomi fails, didn't you? What becomes of his elegance when it crumbles? And you… haven't you noticed your nature's already twisted? Following Tokiomi, what do you seek? What answers do you want from him?"
"Tell me, what's your desire?"
Gilgamesh raised his glass, peering through the red wine at Kirei's shifting expression, captivated by the distorted, crimson reflection.
"I… seek nothing."
Kirei paused, then answered.
"That's impossible."
Gilgamesh dismissed the notion outright.
"The Grail doesn't choose someone without reason. It grants Command Seals only to those with desires. You have a wish."
"So, Kirei, what's your wish?"
"My… wish?"
At Gilgamesh's assertion, Kirei froze, clutching his chest.
"I don't know…"
He couldn't find the answer.
He didn't know happiness, joy, what he sought, or desired…
He didn't even understand his purpose or how to live in this world. All he did was mimic humanity…
He was a monster in human skin.
"Can't find it? Hahaha, as I thought, Kirei Kotomine, you're an interesting man (toy)."
Seeing the conversation near its end, Gilgamesh laughed heartily.
"You… know the answer?"
Seeing Gilgamesh's reaction, Kirei asked urgently.
He felt this ancient king knew the answer to his lifelong question.
"Of course. Such a simple matter—how could I not know?"
Gilgamesh smirked wickedly, beginning to guide Kirei.
"You're just missing an emotion."
Missing an emotion…
"What emotion?"
Desperate for answers, Kirei pressed.
"…Pleasure, the emotion humans rely on for happiness."
Gilgamesh continued his seduction.
"Pleasure? No, that's too sinful…"
"Is it?"
Gilgamesh cut him off, pressing further. "Who said pleasure is inherently evil? Only you decide its direction."
"Some find pleasure in good deeds, others in evil… Pleasure is just the pursuit of satisfaction, of joy."
"Good deeds, evil deeds… pleasure."
At Gilgamesh's words, Kirei's eyes widened, as if grasping something.
"So, the professor and father acted for pleasure…"
"Exactly, Kirei. Life is about pursuing pleasure. If Tokiomi can, why can't you?"
Nodding, Gilgamesh knew Tokiomi's drive was obsession, not pleasure, nor good or evil.
But since that rebellious fool dared use a Command Seal to control him and planned to dispose of him, setting up an amusing trap was only fair.
Kirei Kotomine…
An entertaining toy, a fine blade. Used well, things would get interesting.
"I see… so that's pleasure. What I never understood… what the professor pursued."
Kirei nodded, enlightened again.
"Hahaha, yes, you get it."
What did you get?
Unsure what Kirei grasped, Gilgamesh continued his manipulation.
"Thank you, Archer. I know what I must do…"
"Humans need pleasure… and what I lack is that… pleasure."
Kirei rose slowly, spreading his arms.
"Now, I've found it. I'm starting to feel… pleasure."
A strange smile crept onto Kirei's face.
Gilgamesh grinned, knowing his toy was complete.
Downing his wine, he dispersed into spiritrons, vanishing from the room.
His tasks were done. Now, he waited.
...
...
While Gilgamesh molded his new toy, elsewhere in Fuyuki's arcade…
A figure in a red robe, out of place in this era, laughed triumphantly, making passersby think he'd won a prize.
Closer inspection revealed a young boy, deliberately losing to end the match.
"Congrats on winning. Can I go home now? If my mom finds out I came to the arcade after school, I'm dead."
The boy, expressionless, congratulated the burly man, relieved inwardly.
By throwing the game without using skills, he'd satisfied the gorilla-like man who'd trapped him. Time for the next victim.
"Hm? Done already? I'm not satisfied. One more—"
"No! You won. Find someone else! I've got to go."
As Rider proposed another round, the boy stood, shouted, and fled without looking back.
The arcade owner pitied the kid, stuck with a weird foreigner for hours, forced to play until the man won. He'd likely avoid games for a while.
"Hey, owner, bring me your latest, best strategy game. Pack it up!"
As the owner sighed for the boy, Iskandar's imposing figure loomed, slamming pound notes—stolen from Kayneth—onto the counter.
With Kayneth and Waver prepping in the workshop and Fionn on guard, Iskandar, alone and without gaming partners, had come to browse.
Seeing thousands in pounds, the owner gulped, saying cautiously, "Sir, with exchange rates, we can't make change for these…"
"Change? Keep it! Get me the game. The rest's your tip."
Iskandar waved grandly, unconcerned by the overpayment.
"Really?"
The owner's eyes lit up, seeing Iskandar not as a red-haired gorilla but a god of wealth. If he called himself a king, he was one—money made it so.
"You… Rider?"
As the owner rushed to fetch the game, a surprised, haughty voice sounded behind Iskandar.
Frowning, he turned to see a youth in black-and-white casual clothes, dripping with gold accessories, his golden hair cascading stylishly. More surprising was his familiar face.
"Archer?!"
Seeing Gilgamesh here startled Iskandar, but noticing similar bags and boxes, he realized.
"You're buying games too? Great! I knew I wasn't the only one into this era's games."
Finding a kindred spirit, Iskandar's reservations vanished, chatting casually with Gilgamesh.
"Hmph. As a king, I must experience this era's entertainment to judge its worth."
Gilgamesh snorted, framing his gaming as noble.
"You're grand. I'm just here for fun."
"That's the gap between you false kings and me," Gilgamesh scoffed, though Iskandar didn't mind.
After warming up, Iskandar spoke. "Since I ran into you, Archer, I've been looking for you."
"Looking for me? Eager to seize the Grail?"
Gilgamesh brushed it off.
"No, the Grail's mine, but no rush. Think, Archer—this War gathers heroes and kings from all eras. Saber, Lancer, you, and me—four kings. What a rare fate… Before the War ends, I want us to gather, discuss our ideals, beliefs, and kingship, celebrating this unique bond."
Iskandar spoke earnestly to Gilgamesh.
"A Banquet of Kings? Sounds mildly interesting… But I've said, only I am the true king."
Gilgamesh replied coolly.
"So, you refuse?"
Iskandar looked calmly, unangered by the choice, respecting it as a form of kingship.
"No, it's intriguing. I'll join."
Surprisingly, Gilgamesh smiled, agreeing.
"Without me, how can it be a Banquet of Kings? As the true king, it's my duty to teach you false kings what kingship is."
"Haha, exactly! Clashing beliefs and kingships is what I want. Saber has a castle outside town—we'll meet there. Shame the Queen of the Land of Shadows left yesterday. I can't reach her."
Happy with Gilgamesh's agreement, Iskandar fretted over Scáthach's absence.
"Are you an idiot? You're allied—have your Master contact hers."
Seeing Iskandar's dilemma, Gilgamesh reminded him.
"Right! I forgot about phones…"
Iskandar slapped his palm, his frown easing.
"Thanks, Archer. I'll notify Scáthach. See you there."
As he prepared to have Waver call, a cool female voice interrupted.
"Oh? Looking for me?"
***
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