Waver watched as Rider pulled out his bronze dagger and cleaved the sky, summoning his precious Noble Phantasm, Gordius Wheel.
"Let's go, my little Master. Sit tight this time."
Rider carried Waver by the back of the collar like a chicken and lowered him into the back of the chariot. He grabbed the whip and flicked it violently, sending the bulls galloping toward the sky. Waver's tears fell into the air like beads from a broken thread.
...
"What a coincidence. I didn't expect us to meet here," Irisviel said with a smile.
Since last night's incident, Irisviel had become familiar with Shirou. Compared to Irisviel's generosity, Saber was a little wary. After all, she had suffered a loss at Shirou's hands, and her secrets had been completely seen through by him. If not for that, her ending that day might not have been so miserable.
"What are you doing here...?" Shirou asked.
"Hmm... Irisviel insisted on dragging me to the mall..." Saber said helplessly.
Saber, who felt nothing on the battlefield all day, couldn't help but be a little speechless after being taken around by Irisviel for a day. How do these women know only about buying, buying, and buying all day long? Wait, I seem to be a woman too...
Saber had been pretending to be a man for so long that sometimes her words and deeds were masculine, but she still knew her gender well.
"I'm a little hungry. There's a restaurant not far away. Why don't we go and eat together? It's my treat," Irisviel suggested.
Shirou hesitated for a moment and finally agreed, thinking he could get a meal for nothing without losing any money.
"Hmph."
As soon as she heard about eating, Saber suddenly became energetic, and her steps even became a lot more lively. The ahoge on her head shook slightly like a radar, reflecting the joy in her heart. Just before they were about to enter the restaurant, another somewhat rough voice came from nearby.
"Hey, you're here! It's hard to miss your magic!"
Standing not far away was Rider in a white T-shirt and jeans, with Waver covering his face in shame behind him.
"Don't hide in the back. You can come out and say hello, Master!" Rider nudged Waver, who didn't want to show his face.
"That's enough! Rider, what is the matter with you being here!?"
Although after fighting side by side last night Saber understood that Rider was the kind of Heroic Spirit who acted straightforwardly, they were in a hostile relationship after all, so she still had to be vigilant. Moreover, being interrupted by Rider just as she was about to eat made her quite angry.
"Why are you so angry all of a sudden...?" Rider scratched his head in confusion, thought for a second, and finally gave up thinking because it was too troublesome. "I'm here to drink with you. How about it? Are you coming?"
Hearing Rider's words, Saber's expression suddenly became serious. Irisviel, on the other hand, looked a little confused. Rider had once said that he would wait for Saber and Lancer to decide between them. Still abiding by the pride and self-esteem of a Heroic Spirit, his sudden appearance today was truly incomprehensible.
"Huh? Drinking? Is Rider planning to adopt a soft policy?"
"No, it's a challenge." Saber shook her head at Irisviel's speculation.
"Challenge?"
"Yes... I am a king, and he is also a king. To decide who is superior at the wine table is equivalent to a bloodless battle."
Perhaps hearing Saber's words, the King of Conquest smiled and nodded.
"Hehe, it's good that you understand! Since we can't fight each other with swords, let's use wine to fight for victory, King of Knights!"
"Interesting. I accept."
Saber resolutely responded, exuding a fighting spirit as if she were on the battlefield. Only now did Irisviel realize that this was not a joke, but a real fight. After Saber accepted, Rider grinned and then looked at Shirou.
"Magus over there, you and Lancer should come to my banquet too. It's a little more lively to drink with more people."
'I'm not going.'
Shirou was about to refuse, but suddenly heard the voice of the spirited Lancer.
"A banquet between kings seems very interesting. Of course, Master, I don't mean I insist on going; it all depends on your wishes..."
Shirou, who had not planned to participate, suddenly felt Diarmuid's excitement and eagerness.
"Fine, let's go." Shirou shrugged.
"Thank you, my Lord!" The excited Diarmuid even became more respectful.
"..." Shirou was suddenly embarrassed.
...
The banquet was held at the flowerbed in the atrium of the castle where Irisviel lived. Because Shirou had killed Caster and Kayneth, the castle—which would have been invaded and destroyed several times—was now intact and retained the air of ancient aristocracy. There was a bounded field here, and it was in the middle of nowhere, so it was relatively undetectable compared to anywhere else in the city.
At this point, no one cared about the cold outside. Rider led them to the atrium, and the three Servants sat down to face each other. Shirou chose to sit next to Lancer. Irisviel and Waver sat side by side, wondering how the situation would unfold, realizing this meant a temporary truce and that they would just have to watch.
Rider smashed the lid of the barrel with his fist, and the mellow aroma of red wine filled the atrium.
"Although it has a strange shape, it is a ladle unique to this country," Rider said as he triumphantly dipped into the wine with a bamboo handle.
"..." Shirou looked at his incorrect demonstration and for a moment didn't know what to say.
Rider took a sip of the wine from the ladle before speaking.
"I've heard that only those who are qualified can obtain the Holy Grail."
The serious tone calmed the surrounding atmosphere. This man actually spoke in such a tone, and it always felt like something was slightly off.
"And the ritual of selecting the person who is qualified is this war being fought in Fuyuki. But if we can recognize each other's abilities through conversation, then there is no need to shed blood."