Chapter Forty-Seven: The King’s Army

“Hee~hee~” With a series of eerie laughs, figures wearing ghastly white masks began to appear all around. In a flash, Waver rushed to the Emperor’s side, while Alice and Kiritsugu quickly hid behind Toria. Kariya, meanwhile, brought Sakura over to stand with Lancer.

“Hm? Assassin? Gil, are these yours?”

“Tch, as if I would resort to such measures,” Gilgamesh replied coolly to the Emperor. No one present, not even Kiritsugu, doubted his words. One as proud as he could never bring himself to lie.

“Hmph, that damned Tokiomi, always complicating things,” muttered the golden loli under her breath, barely audible to anyone but herself.

“Well, whatever your intentions, since you’re here, shouldn’t you at least share a drink with us?” The Emperor ladled a cup of wine and offered it forward.

“Hey, mongrel, do you mean to let them take a seat at our table?” The golden loli showed no goodwill toward these intruders who threatened to mar her dignity.

“Come now, don’t mind it! Since Berserker is already here, what harm in a few more to witness our exchange? A king’s words are for all the world to hear.”

With that, the Emperor addressed the newcomers once more: “Come, let this wine mingle with your blood.”

“Hee~hee~” The only response was another meaningless peal of laughter, then a flying dagger knocked the ladle from the Emperor’s hand.

“Heh, it seems you misunderstand me. I said, this wine will mingle with your blood. Now that it has been spilled…” The Emperor abruptly rose, his presence commanding, and addressed those behind him, “I ask you: Is a king ever alone?”

“Hmph!” The golden loli’s snort made her opinion plain, while Toria, though she had mostly come to terms with her own thoughts, still answered, “Of course, a king stands alone!” She had never wavered from this belief, though deep within her heart there was a softness known only to herself.

“Haha! Let me tell you—A king is never alone!” With a sweep of his sword, not a chariot but a great wind and dust arose.

“What is this…!” The sandstorm blinded their eyes; when they opened them again, they beheld a sight too fantastic to believe.

“A Reality Marble?!” Alice was the first to cry out. “Impossible! How could a Rider possess a Reality Marble?” Reality Marbles were great sorceries, said to be closest to true magic itself—few magi alive could achieve such a feat. For a Rider, with no legends of sorcery, to possess one caused Alice to cry out in shock.

“My own? No! Impossible! This is a scene traversed by myself and my army, etched into the hearts of each of my soldiers as well as my own. This Reality Marble is the very bond between me and my men!”

As the Emperor finished speaking, the wind and sand grew even more intense.

When their eyes opened again, the scene had changed. The Emperor stood at one end, Assassin at the other, while Lancer and the others had been shifted outside the battlefield.

All eyes widened in disbelief as mirage-like images began to appear around him. One, two, then four—gradually, the images multiplied, assembling into what looked like an army. Their colors grew more vivid with every passing moment.

“This world is reborn because it is engraved in each of our hearts.”

In the stunned silence, armored warriors began to materialize at Iskandar’s side. Though their races and arms differed, their powerful bodies and keen blades and axes marked them all as soldiers of peerless strength.

The others began to understand what was unfolding before them.

“These… these are all Servants…”

As the Emperor’s Master, he was the first to comprehend: this was Rider Iskandar’s true trump card, the ultimate Noble Phantasm revealed before his eyes. Others, such as the golden loli and Toria, sensed it in their own way.

“Behold, my peerless army!”

With pride and exultation, the King of Conquerors stood before his cavalry, arms raised high in a shout.

“Though they met their end, their heroic spirits are summoned still—they are the loyal warriors of legend who once fought by my side. Through time and space, my eternal comrades answer my call. They are my greatest treasure! They are the path of kingship itself! Iskandar’s ultimate Noble Phantasm—‘Army of the King!’”

An anti-army Noble Phantasm of EX rank, the continuous summoning of heroic Servants.

War gods, Maharajas, founders of ancient dynasties—those gathered here are legends heard of only in fables! Each of them a unique heroic spirit, all of them warriors who fought beside the great Iskandar.

A riderless horse galloped toward Rider—a magnificent, robust steed, whose presence would have rivaled any heroic spirit were it human.

“It’s been a long time, partner,” Rider laughed boyishly, embracing the horse’s neck. It was clear that “she” was none other than the legendary steed Bucephalus. Even his horse, after following the King of Conquerors, had become a heroic spirit.

Warriors who staked everything on the king’s dream, who rode with him across the battlefield.

Loyalty that never died, even in death—this, the King of Conquerors forged into an unmatched Noble Phantasm.

Not even the golden loli, she who possessed the King’s Treasury, nor Saber with her holy sword, could hide their awe. Not even she, with all her treasures, possessed a Noble Phantasm as unique as this—a pain that would always linger in Toria’s heart, for the one who inherited her will…

“A king must live more truly than anyone else—must inspire all to look up in awe!”

Seated astride Bucephalus, Rider cried out boldly. The heroic spirits responded with the thunder of shields and a resounding shout.

“A king is one who gathers the hopes of all heroes and leads them forth on a grand campaign. Thus—”

“A king is not alone, for his will is the wish of all his people!”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” The resounding cries of the heroic spirits soared across the sky. No matter the foe or the barrier, in the face of the King of Conquerors and his comrades, all threats seemed to vanish. Their fervor could split earth and sea alike.

Their enemies now were the Assassins, just moments ago so bold. Confronted with the King’s unmatched army, their fate was sealed.

“Come, Assassins, let us begin!” Rider’s eyes glittered with an almost feral cruelty. Those who had refused the king’s words, who had spurned the wine he offered—he would show no mercy.

“As you see, my battlefield is a plain. Forgive me, but if you seek victory in numbers, the advantage is mine.” The Emperor reserved his generosity for those he deemed worthy; clearly, the Assassins were not among them.

In this moment, the Holy Grail, victory, and Command Seals were forgotten. The Assassins had lost themselves entirely.

Some tried to flee, others screamed in hopelessness, while some stood frozen in shock—disorganized, their true forms now revealed, the Assassins proved themselves nothing but a rabble. Even the mightiest Persian assassin bore an expression unworthy of his legend before this unparalleled force.

“Lay waste to them!”

Rider gave the order without hesitation. Then—“AAAALaLaLaLaLaie!!”

A thunderous roar responded. Once more, the invincible army that had swept across Asia shook the field of battle.

This was no longer a fight; it was a rout.

Wherever the ‘Army of the King’ marched, not a trace of Assassin remained—only a faint scent of blood and drifting sand in the air.

“Waaaah—hoo!” The triumphant cheer rang out. With victory offered up to their king, the heroic spirits honored his name, then, their task complete, faded into spirit form and vanished into the distance.

The Reality Marble, sustained by their combined magical energy, soon dissolved as well. Everything shattered like a bubble, and the scene returned to the night as before. In the courtyard of Einzbern Castle, the group found themselves once more.

The pale, clear moonlight bathed the world in silence; no trace of dust lingered in the air.

The four Servants and the magi resumed their seats, Lancer and the others raising their cups again. The Assassins had vanished without a trace; it was as if the whole ordeal had been a hallucination, save for the broken remnants of the ladle, its handle sliced away by a dagger, as proof of what had transpired.

“Haha, what excellent wine! As King of Conquerors, I truly fear I’ll never have another chance to taste it,” declared the Emperor, raising his cup high.

“It truly is splendid. Even I, who dislike alcohol, can tell as much,” Lancer replied in kind.

“To have such a fine drink appear before me, as King of Conquerors—Gil, this was your greatest mistake. Next time we fight, I swear I’ll claim this wine as my own!” the Emperor vowed, savoring the memory.

“Be sure to call for me then,” Lancer joked.

“You mongrels dare discuss my wine so openly? If you have the mettle, come and take it!” Even in her childish form, the most ancient of kings radiated unmatched presence.

And so, the final cup of the banquet was drained.

This time, there was no discord. The Emperor, with his “queen” at his side, climbed aboard his chariot, then turned to Toria and said, “Next time, let me witness your own path of kingship!”

Toria, though silent, replied with even greater resolve, “Of course. I will show you.”

“By the way, Emperor, are you free tonight?” Lancer asked abruptly.

“Me? Naturally, but what’s the matter?” The Emperor scratched his head.

“I believe it’s time to invite another onto the stage. I believe everyone here will agree,” Lancer explained.

“Hmph. Such a one must be dealt with. Come, Berserker, lead the way and let’s settle this.” Though he glorified conquest, the King of Conquerors could never stomach the slaughter of children.

The golden loli had already left first, and Lancer, never intending to rely on her anyway, paid her departure no mind. He led the group toward the coast, Toria close behind. The Emperor took Waver onto his chariot, while the others followed in Alice’s car. Lancer suggested that, to let Sakura enjoy the scenery, Waver should bring her along on the Emperor’s chariot. As for Kariya, Lancer could only pray for him.

“So this is the monster spawned by Caster?” the Emperor remarked in awe.

“Yes, and according to my information, it must be destroyed in a single blow—its regenerative powers are formidable.” To prove his intelligence, he revealed his Noble Phantasm.

He uttered no words, but after gathering power, Lancer’s sword released a bolt of lightning that struck Caster dead on.

“Terrifying, truly!” said Lancer, arriving just in time.

“Oh, Lancer, you’re here too?”

“Yes, I sensed a great surge of magical energy nearby and hurried over,” Lancer explained.

Though Lancer did not speak the name aloud, Toria was now certain of her own thoughts.

Nearly four thousand words—thank you all for reading! If you’ve enjoyed this rare occasion, do leave a vote! As always, please consider adding to your collection—just a single click!

End of chapter.