Earlier – half an hour before Naoki woke up, Mount Enzou.
Standing at the foot of the mountain and gazing at its entirety, now that he was so close, Iskandar finally sensed something abnormal about the mountain.
"The ley lines are converging here."
Servants are more sensitive to mana than humans, and in Iskandar's perception, Mount Enzou was like a balloon that was continuously and actively absorbing air from the outside world, expanding to a terrifying degree.
Standing on Iskandar's chariot, feeling his magic circuits disturbed by the abnormal mana in the air, even someone as casual as Waver could clearly understand that there was an extraordinary demonic presence hidden within Mount Enzou.
'There is an existence in Mount Enzou that could be called an enemy of the world. I hope you can help defeat it.'
Recalling what the woman named Reiroukan Misaya had said not long ago, Waver, who initially didn't take it seriously, was now in a state of panic.
"What... what should I do, Rider? All my magic circuits are active. There must be a terrifying monster in this mountain!"
"I know that clearly without you telling me. Now I understand why that female Magus asked for our help even though Saber is with her. A being like that is clearly not something a single Servant can handle."
Iskandar had seen many extraordinary things in his life. Even the two bulls pulling his chariot were mythical creatures deeply connected to the God-King Zeus. From that perspective, there shouldn't be much that could surprise him.
Yet now, Iskandar felt shocked, even afraid, of the presence within Mount Enzou.
There was no doubt, it was an "enemy." Anyone on this planet would think so upon learning of its existence. It was an "enemy" rejected by all and feared by all. It was an entity that must be eliminated by any means necessary. Even if it were a cruel existence, there would be no thought of cooperating or resonating with it.
It was truly evil.
Iskandar stroked his beard and tapped his hand: "Alright, standing here isn't a good idea. Let's head into the mountains first. Kid, you stay here."
"Huh...?"
Lifting Waver like a chicken and tossing him under the chariot, Iskandar smiled and said, "It's still too early for you to step forward. You don't have the qualifications yet, so stay here and wait for my triumphant return."
"Ah? What are you—"
Waver instinctively wanted to argue, but the stinging magic circuits quickly calmed him down – Iskandar was right, he couldn't move forward with him yet. His half-baked level was far from sufficient. Just by sensing the mana, he could understand that the presence ahead was not something he could face or handle. Even Iskandar might not be able to deal with it – that's what his expression and eyes said.
This man was leaving him behind for his own safety.
Waver understood what Iskandar meant.
Pursing his lips, Waver asked, "Promise me, Rider, that you'll come back."
"HAHAHAHAHA! Who do you think I am?" Iskandar patted his chest and laughed. "I am the unparalleled King of Conquerors, Iskandar. No matter when, the sight of my back as I go to war and the sound of the trumpet heralding my victorious return will always be etched in the hearts of my people!"
Subject?
Waver's slender body trembled: "Am I... your subject?"
"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?"
Patting his head, Iskandar smiled and said, "Although you've never fought another Servant, you've always been on my chariot, following me across land and sky. In this way, haven't you already become my subject?"
'I am his subject.'
'I am just a novice among novices, yet I am the subject of the world-renowned King of Conquerors, recognized by him.'
For the first time in his life, Waver was acknowledged, and the one who acknowledged him was a king of great majesty.
His eyes immediately welled up with tears, and he raised his hand, saying in a choked voice: "I command my king with a Command Spell – Rider, you must return victorious!"
Without exception, all the subjects of the King of Conquerors remember his back as he goes to war and the sound of the victory trumpet. Waver had seen his back as he went to war, so this time, he hoped to hear the loud sound of the trumpet.
"Kid..."
Looking into Waver's eyes, which had just wiped away tears, Iskandar was about to say something when a burst of golden particles suddenly gathered at the streetlamp by the roadside. Wearing shining golden armor, Gilgamesh looked down at the king and his minister below.
"That's the etiquette between a king and his subjects before war. Although I'm not someone who doesn't understand romance, you two bastards are taking too long, aren't you?"
"You... Ah, Archer from the Tohsaka family. You're here too?" Iskandar smiled at Gilgamesh. "What a coincidence! Could it be that you were also invited by that female Magus?"
"Female Magus? I've never seen such a thing before. I'm here only to fulfill my duty as a king." Gilgamesh gazed at Mount Enzou. "Although slaying a Beast is the duty of a warrior, this beast is completely beyond the control of a warrior. I have no choice but to come here and face it myself."
"Hey~ So you're here to deal with the people in the mountains too? Then we can be considered temporary comrades."
"Comrades?"
Gilgamesh's eyebrow twitched violently, and a flash of anger immediately appeared on his face.
"Don't get carried away. This king has only one comrade-in-arms, in the past and in the future! Your arrogant words will be a sign of your current situation or your death!"
"You're really angry... But at least I've confirmed that the creature in the mountain is so difficult to defeat that you don't want to waste your mana and energy before facing it."
"..."
Seeing Gilgamesh fall silent, Iskandar couldn't help but smile.
At that moment, another burst of light particles gathered and formed not far away. Holding two magical spears, one long and one short, Diarmuid looked at Iskandar and Gilgamesh in surprise.
"You two... Are you here for the matter in the mountains too?"
Well, it seems all three of them have the same goal?
Iskandar couldn't hold back.