Chapter 99: FATE • The Chinese Strategist Alliance
Cigarette smoke swirled around Waver.
"Young man, are you really serious about this?"
As if weighing the pros and cons, Waver continued:
"The so-called 'Roman Allied Forces' aren't just a ragtag bunch. They've gathered countless conquerors from history, including war gods like Leonidas. Each of them was summoned to this era with ambitions of world conquest. Even without an army, their strength alone is enough to rule over ancient Rome."
Indeed, Waver was right.
The rulers and leaders summoned by the Holy Grail into this world were all legendary tacticians and mighty warlords, each of whom had once commanded vast territories.
"But victory has never been about physical strength alone, has it?"
Ethan responded instantly.
"We have two strategists, each capable of replacing an entire army."
Waver immediately countered,
"Forget about Reines, but I have no intention of joining your side."
"But you've already been marked as a traitor on the battlefield. You no longer have a place among them."
"That 'king' will not believe in my betrayal. He is certain I will return."
Waver spoke with unwavering conviction.
"Rescuing Nero with just this small force would be incredibly difficult. Therefore, if possible, we should persuade that 'king' to join our cause."
"———?!"
Waver stared at Ethan in shock.
"Are you telling me to recruit the king?!"
"It's not about recruitment. It's about guiding him back to the rightful path."
Ethan met Waver's gaze head-on, his voice resolute.
"El-Melloi II… No, Waver Velvet. You, more than anyone, understand what is right."
Ethan's words seemed to stir something deep within Waver's memories.
He recalled a certain king—one who pursued conquest through his own strength. A king who would never bow to a court magus, nor willingly conspire with the leaders of the Roman Allied Forces to suppress the true emperor of this land.
That was not the path of kingship he should walk.
Nor was it the future Waver himself wished for.
"Seems like… Chaldea has done quite a bit of research on me."
After a long silence, Waver let out a deep sigh.
"As a vassal, I should obey my king's orders without question. But right now, I am also his teacher. And as his teacher, I must guide him toward the path a true king should follow."
He looked at Ethan, then turned his gaze to Romani, who was watching the entire exchange in confusion through the monitor.
Finally, Waver sighed once more.
"Congratulations. Chaldea wins this round."
"You mean…?"
"Yes, I'll temporarily ally with you and try to persuade the king to join us. But don't get your hopes up too much. There are too many uncertainties here."
"Regardless, thank you!"
Ethan immediately expressed his gratitude.
The truth was, Waver had long known that his previous decision wasn't the right one. He simply hadn't been able to make the final choice.
And now, with both Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang joining forces… Would ancient Rome ever be the same again?!
[If you don't understand, is the host filming 'FATE: The Strategist Alliance' or something?]
[Sleeping Dragon - Young Phoenix. Either one is enough to decide the fate of an empire. But history never recorded a case where both Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi were on the same side?!]
[With Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi around, we can expect to see Sima Yi cross-dressing every day.]
[This time, we even have Sima Yi adding fuel to the fire. Just how chaotic will Rome become…]
[In a way… this is kind of exciting, isn't it?]
[Oh no! Rome is doomed!!!]
[Ayo, are you guys all Chinese? I have no idea what you're talking about.]
...
[System: 'Ultimate Joker' has sent 100 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: It's time for Rome to experience a gentle tremor from these mysterious Eastern strategists!! CHINA NUMBA WAN!!!]
[System: 'Bruce-kun' has sent 5,000 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: Worry about yourself first, Joker! I'm sending you to jail!]
[System: 'Ultimate Joker' has sent 100 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: Oho, little bat, do you know who will visit me when I'm in jail?]
[System: 'Bruce-kun' has sent 10,000 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: Who?]
[System: 'Ultimate Joker' has sent 100 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: My parents.]
[System: 'Bruce-kun' has sent 1 Saint Quartz!]
[Message: …]
...
[Hahahahahahahaha— I mean, Kono hito de nashi!!!]
...
"Ara, it seems Onii-sama is having quite the enjoyable time?"
A voice rang out from outside.
"Tch, why are you back here?"
"A cute little sister returning home, only to be met with such coldness from Onii-sama? My fragile heart will be shattered~"
"You don't have anything fragile… cough, cough!!"
Overcome by frustration, Waver immediately started coughing violently.
"Honestly, Onii-sama, you're always so easily agitated. You used up quite a lot of mana in the last battle, didn't you?"
"I'm fine. I can recover using the ley lines here."
Zhuge Liang possessed Territory Creation, not to mention being one of the best support-type Casters, so his mana regeneration abilities were nothing to scoff at.
"But that only replenishes the bare minimum. We Pseudo Servants also need rest and proper meals to recover our mental state."
Reines clapped her hands, and Trimmau immediately stepped forward from behind her, carrying a tray of coffe.
"Oujou-sama, the coffe is ready."
"Umu, let my Onii-sama have a taste. There's no café around here, after all."
Trimmau held out the tray, placing it in front of it master's foster brother.
"…As much as I hate to admit it, it's been a long time since I last had coffee…"
Swayed by the aroma, Waver couldn't resist picking up the cup and taking a sip.
"——————?!!"
His expression immediately changed, and in the next instant, he spat it out.
"What in the world did you just make me drink?!"
Wiping his mouth, Waver glared at Reines.
"Ahahaha… Onii-sama, you should've thought about it a little. This is Rome! Where would I even get coffee? I just used some magecraft to disguise it a little. Ahahaha…"
Reines laughed to the point of tears, wiping the corner of her eye.
"But it is pure grape juice. In London, those experimental beverage shops don't have anything like this. It's good for your health."
"Yet drinking it just made me feel even worse?!"
Waver had completely run out of patience with his little sister.
...
"Senpai!"
Mash returned, arms full of grapes.
"We found these in an abandoned field nearby. Some of them aren't fully ripe yet, but they're still edible."
"So that's why you all went out—to gather food? Thanks, Mash."
Before Ethan could even respond—
Thud!
A heavy sound echoed as something was thrown onto the cave floor.
"Master, I found a wild boar for us to eat! Let's roast it tonight!"
In front of Mordred lay a massive boar, as large as a full-grown adult, lying motionless as if it had suffered heatstroke.
"Good job, Mordred!"
"Hmph! I've been doing this for a long time. When you're constantly on the move, hunting is just a basic skill."
Mordred pounded her chest proudly.
"Tch, it's just a boar!"
From the back, Jeanne Alter gritted her teeth in frustration.
"I clearly caught way more than that."
"Um… Senpai…"
Mash edged closer to Ethan, whispering in his ear.
"Jeanne Alter-san doesn't seem happy. All the animals she hunted ended up… completely charred."
Perhaps after being teased by Reines earlier, she was having trouble controlling her power.
"Hehehe… If I just burn everything down, we can start over from scratch, right?"
Dark flames flickered once again in Jeanne Alter's hand.
"Aaaaa! Jeanne Alter-san! Please don't burn everyone's dinner!!!"